How can I fix the color in a naturally dyed indigo hemp blanket?


Name: Julie

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Message: I have scoured your website for the answer to my question with no avail.  I purchased a naturally dyed indigo hemp throw/ blanket from the Black Hmong tribe living in the SaPa region, northern Vietnam.  I had hoped to use the throw, but the colour comes off on your hands and I am wondering how I should wash/ fix the colour so I can wash the fabric?

I'm afraid that I have bad news for you. Many indigo-dyed items that are sold in the tourist trade, particularly in Guatemala or Vietnam, have been improperly dyed and will continue to crock dye no matter what you do. It is often not possible to solve this problem; it may be necessary to return the improperly-dyed items for a refund, which is impractical for items purchased while traveling.

There is no dye fixative that can be used to set improperly dyed indigo. Indigo is a vat dye, so it has a neutral chemical charge, and therefore cannot be fixed with cationic dye fixatives such as Retayne. Your only hope is to wash the items, preferably in hot water, using detergent. You may use vinegar to rinse your fabric, using two to four tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water, but this will not produce a miracle cure if your textiles have been dyed incorrectly. It merely neutralizes the high pH that is left on indigo-dyed items after dyeing and is truly helpful only for properly-applied indigo.

This is a commonly asked question on my site. See, for example, the following blog posts:

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Posted: Monday - September 22, 2008 at 11:00 PM          

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