Global Retail Solutions Workshops

Thread is dyed or colored and then finished depending on the application. At A&E, we use packaging dyeing in which many packages of thread are dyed under pressure in a dye vat. Packages of synthetic threads are dyed by a similar process that uses high temperature to ensure colorfastness, a key thread performance characteristic.

• A Colorite system from Datacolor, Inc., for emailing color matches, which reduces the time for getting an approved color shade. 
• A Tecnorama Dos and Dye system, which processes up to eight samples at one time, reducing the time it takes to create formulas for custom colors. The Tecnorama system also eliminates the potential for operator error compared to systems where a technician manually weighs the dyes and solutions.
  

For more information on dyeing and colorfastness, contact the American Apparel and Footwear Association, which is a national trade association that represents thread manufacturers (www.apparelandfootwear.org).