Colour fastness and care of embroidery threads

The colour of an embroidery thread should remain consistent throughout the intended life of the finished product. Washing, sunlight, perspiration, rubbing and industrial finishing processes can all influence how embroidery colours develop over time.

Colour fastness is therefore an important selection criterion, particularly for frequently washed garments, workwear, sportswear and embroidery with contrasting colours. The thread material, dyeing process and subsequent care conditions all influence the final result.

Colour fastness describes the resistance of an embroidery thread's colour to external influences such as washing, light, perspiration, rubbing and chemical treatments.

Good colour fastness means that the thread retains its original shade as far as possible and does not cause unwanted staining of adjacent materials under the intended conditions of use and care.

Embroidery often creates prominent visual elements such as logos, lettering and decorative motifs. Changes in colour or staining around these elements can therefore be particularly noticeable.

Two effects must be distinguished:

• Colour change: The embroidery thread fades or changes shade due to exposure to light, washing or other influences.
• Colour staining: Dye transfers from the embroidery thread to an adjacent textile material, potentially causing unwanted discolouration.

Both effects depend on the thread material, dyes, embroidery substrate and conditions of use.

For embroidery with strong colour contrasts, such as dark lettering on a white garment, colour staining is particularly critical.

Different applications require resistance to different influences. A thread that performs well during normal household washing may not automatically be suitable for prolonged outdoor exposure or intensive industrial laundering.

The required properties should be evaluated according to the intended use of the finished product rather than a single general colour fastness rating.

Polyester and viscose are widely used for conventional machine embroidery, but their dyeing behaviour and resistance to different influences are not identical.Viscose embroidery threads

Polyester embroidery threads generally offer good colour fastness to washing, bleaching, light and perspiration.

High-temperature dyeing processes help achieve durable colouration, making polyester suitable for many applications requiring frequent cleaning or prolonged use.

Viscose embroidery threads are valued for their characteristic lustre and decorative appearance.

Compared with polyester, they are generally more sensitive to demanding washing conditions and some environmental influences. Viscose threads are not bleach- or chlorine fast. This poses a risk, particularly in the case of coloured contrast embroidery on white textiles, as these are usually washed with heavy-duty detergents containing optical brighteners.

Viscose may therefore be particularly suitable for decorative embroidery where its visual characteristics are important and the intended care conditions are compatible with the selected thread.

Colour fastness problems are not limited to normal washing. Certain textile finishing processes and storage conditions can also affect embroidery threads.

Relevant influences include:

• High-temperature treatments: Prolonged dry heat exposure during textile finishing, ironing or pressing may affect dye stability.
• Plasticisers and chemical substances: Contact with certain materials can promote dye migration or staining.
• Strong bleaching agents: High concentrations of chlorine-based or oxygen-based chemicals may affect embroidery colours.
• Storage conditions: Certain dye migration effects can develop gradually and become visible only after prolonged contact with other materials.

Even embroidery threads with generally good colour fastness can be affected under unfavourable conditions.

For critical applications, the complete finishing and storage process should therefore be included in the testing procedure.

The care requirements of the finished textile should always be considered when selecting an embroidery thread.

An embroidered product consists of several components, including the outer material, embroidery thread, bobbin thread and potentially stabilisers or other supporting materials.

These components must be compatible with the intended care conditions.

Important considerations include:

• Washing temperature and frequency
• Detergents and bleaching agents
• Drying and ironing conditions
• Industrial laundering or professional textile care
• Colour contrast between embroidery and substrate
• Dimensional stability of the embroidered material

Besides colour fastness, different shrinkage behaviour between the embroidery and the material can also affect the appearance of the finished design.

For specific washing, drying, ironing and bleaching requirements, see the existing Sewing thread care chapter in the AMANN Knowledge Hub.

Standardised colour fastness tests provide valuable information about the performance of embroidery threads. However, the final application may involve combinations of materials and conditions that require additional evaluation.

For demanding embroidery applications, the following approach is recommended:

1. Define the intended use: Identify the expected washing, light exposure, perspiration and finishing requirements.
2. Check the thread specifications: Review the relevant colour fastness and care information in the product data sheet.
3. Test the complete embroidery: Use the actual embroidery thread, substrate, stabiliser and intended design.
4. Apply representative care conditions: Include washing, drying or finishing processes expected during production and use.
5. Evaluate the result: Check for colour change, staining, dye migration and distortion of the embroidered material.

Particular attention should be paid to high-contrast embroidery, special finishing processes and products requiring intensive laundering.

Technical terms

• Embroidery thread colour fastness
• Machine embroidery colour fastness
• Embroidery colour stability
• Colour fastness to washing
• Colour fastness to light
• Colour fastness to perspiration
• Colour fastness to rubbing
• Wet rubbing fastness
• Dry rubbing fastness
• Water fastness
• Bleach resistance
• Dye migration
• Colour staining
• Colour change
• Embroidery thread dye stability
• Embroidery thread care properties
• Textile colour fastness testing
• Colour fastness of polyester embroidery threads
• Colour fastness of viscose embroidery threads

Common descriptions

• How to prevent embroidery colours from fading
• Why does embroidery thread lose its colour?
• Why does embroidery thread bleed during washing?
• Which embroidery thread is colour-fast?
• Polyester vs viscose embroidery colour fastness
• Best embroidery thread for frequent washing
• How to wash embroidered garments
• Can embroidery thread withstand bleaching?
• Why does embroidery thread stain the fabric?
• What causes dye migration in embroidery?
• Can embroidery colours change during heat pressing?
• Which embroidery thread is suitable for workwear?
• Does sunlight cause embroidery colours to fade?
• How can I test embroidery colour fastness?
• How to prevent colour transfer from dark embroidery onto light fabrics
• Which embroidery thread is suitable for industrial laundering?

Alternative terminology

Different markets and applications may use slightly different terminology.

• Embroidery colourfastness
• Colour-fast embroidery thread
• Colourfast embroidery yarn
• Embroidery dye fastness
• Embroidery colour durability
• Embroidery colour retention
• Wash-resistant embroidery colour
• Fade-resistant embroidery thread
• Embroidery thread colour stability
• Dye bleeding
• Colour bleeding
• Colour transfer
• Colour migration
• Dye staining
• Crocking (rubbing-related colour transfer)
• Embroidery care resistance