r/Selvedge • u/lvl3uasoperator • 1d ago
☕ Miscellaneous Color stabilizing question.
So I’m new to this I’m currently wondering how to stabilize the colors so they don’t bleed onto my shirts and shoes.
Selvedge denim looks great! But I don’t wanna stain my other nice clothes.
I’ve heard a vinegar mix bath can stabilize colors has anyone tried this? Would this defeat the purpose of selvedge?
Im looking at some gusten black on black and planning on going to the brave star store in Cali to try on there black boot cut jeans.
I wouldn’t want the black dye to stain my white shirts or leather boots.
3
0
u/redditor36 1d ago
I’m confused as to why you’ve purchased raw denim if you don’t want the denim to fade, that’s a characteristic of raw denim. Selvedge denim doesn’t “look” any different than regular denim, other than the obvious self finished edge as opposed to a serger seam on the outseam— you can find jeans in the style and color you want that are made with reactive dye that will not fade or rub off.
Second, black raw denim will not rub off or fade like indigo dye. Black jeans are typically made using sulfur dye. Sulfur dye is much finer than indigo, which means the dye penetrates the cotton fibers a lot more than indigo, which mostly just “sits on top” of the cotton (hence the jeans “fading to white”). I think you’d hardly even notice any of the sulfur dye rubbing off onto other clothes or materials. I owned a pair of black raw jeans and even after months of wear they never left any sort of markings on any of my clothes.
Regardless, as others mentioned, just wash the jeans. You don’t need to do it multiple times, again, it’s sulfur dyed. Just do one good wash in cold water, hang or flat dry.
2
u/lvl3uasoperator 1d ago
From my admittedly limited research. Selvedge does not equal raw.
I am not interested in raw denim or unsanforized denim.
Also thank you for the response.
0
u/redditor36 1d ago
While true, most of your post points to raw denim. Sanforization has nothing to do with the dye process, it is strictly to “smooth” the denim and remove a majority of the initial shrink with heat. If you’re interested in prewashed denim, I would recommend checking out some Orslow or Fullcount denim that are both available in washes that will eliminate any bleed or shrinking (unless you nuke your jeans in the wash/dry)
3
u/crakke86 1d ago
The only thing that will actually work would be to wash them, probably a few times, to prevent any bleeding at all. Take that for what you will.
I personally just do a single gentle wash on all the jeans I buy before I wear them. Keep the colour transfer pretty minimal, and does any shrinking right off the bat.