Colour Fastness to Washing Explained: How It Works in Performance Sportswear
Colour Fastness to Washing is best understood as resistance to colour change and staining. This entry explains how it behaves inside a finished garment rather than only in the laboratory.
What the term means
resistance to colour change and staining, which is why the value appears on almost every technical data sheet. Working figures for Colour Fastness to Washing normally sit around grade 4-5 expected in mainstream production. Note ISO 105-C06 domestic laundering on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Why it matters in practice
it is the most frequently failed test in audits, so it influences buying decisions more than most buyers expect. Record elastane content alongside Colour Fastness to Washing, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside grade 4-5 expected usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical values seen in activewear
grade 4-5 expected. Ranges vary by construction, so compare like with like. Keeping reference values for Colour Fastness to Washing lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with ISO 105-C06 domestic laundering, since both affect the reading.
How it is measured
ISO 105-C06 domestic laundering is the reference normally quoted on a test report. Working figures for Colour Fastness to Washing normally sit around grade 4-5 expected in mainstream production. Note ISO 105-C06 domestic laundering on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Frequent mistakes
Comparing results from different standards, testing unwashed fabric, and writing the target without tolerance are the common errors. Record elastane content alongside Colour Fastness to Washing, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside grade 4-5 expected usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
