Lab Dip Approval: Getting Colour Right the First Time
Lab dip discipline prevents the single most common cause of production delays in apparel: a colour that was never truly approved.
The following sections cover the definition, the specification values, production control, testing and commercial impact.
What a lab dip proves
It demonstrates that the dyehouse can reach the reference shade on the specified substrate, not that bulk will match it.
It also reduces the risk of a mid-season change, which is where both cost and calendar damage usually originate.
Light source evaluation
Assess under D65, TL84 and cool white, because a shade that matches in one light can fail badly in another.
Review the limits each season against actual performance data instead of carrying the same figures forward indefinitely.
- Agree tolerances in writing before the first sample is made
- Define the measurement condition and the direction measured
- Review the limit each season against real performance data
Tolerance and metamerism
Agree numerical tolerance in DE values and check whether the dye recipe is metameric against the reference.
Record the machine settings for each approved lot, so a repeat order can be reproduced rather than re-invented.
Fastness alongside shade
Approve colour together with the relevant fastness results, so shade cannot be met by sacrificing durability.
Verify with an accredited test on production fabric rather than a development sample, and repeat the test after laundering.
- Record settings and raw material lots for every approved production run
- Check in-process rather than relying on final inspection
- Escalate deviations the same day they appear
Documentation for production
Record the approved recipe, substrate lot and machine, then keep the dip as the physical reference.
Review the requirement annually against market prices, as the cost of some materials moves faster than others.
Summary
Buyers who verify rather than assume obtain better fabric at the same price, and fewer surprises after the goods arrive.
