Piece dyeing is dyeing woven or knitted fabric after it's constructed but before garments are cut - dyeing 'pieces' (rolls) of fabric.
The Piece Dyeing Process
Undyed fabric - greige goods - is scoured to remove sizing and impurities, then dyed in large becks or jet machines that circulate fabric through the dye bath. After dyeing, the fabric is washed, dried, and finished (heat-set, sanforized, or otherwise treated) before shipping to garment factories. It's the workhorse dyeing method of the apparel industry.
Piece Dyeing vs Other Methods
- vs yarn dyeing: cheaper and faster, but less color depth and no patterns
- vs garment dyeing: earlier in the process, so more color commitment - but more even results
Best For
Solid colors in large yardage. When a brand needs thousands of yards of one solid shade, piece dyeing is the most economical path - which is why it's the most common dyeing method for apparel fabric worldwide.
FAQs
- What are greige goods?
- Undyed, unfinished fabric straight off the loom or knitting machine.
- Can piece-dyed fabric have patterns?
- No - piece dyeing produces solid colors. Patterns need yarn dyeing or printing.
- Is piece dyeing colorfast?
- Depends on dye class and process - proper piece dyeing is fully colorfast.
Glossary: see the full fashion glossary for more apparel industry terms.