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Dying Martial Arts Gi uniforms for demo teams and special programs.
Colored Martial Arts uniforms are useful and fun for so many occasions. And Martial Artists sometimes need uniforms in different colors, such as red or blue for a demonstration team, pink for a women's self-defense program, etc.
A great project for Martial Arts students is to dye their own uniform any color of the rainbow - pink, purple, even lime green! A colored uniform can be used for parties or costumes. Colored uniforms can be signed by party guests. Have a special guest at your event? Have that person autograph the uniform and sell it at auction to raise money for a special cause.
We offer Martial Arts uniforms in red, blue, black and pink here at Martial Arts Party Store, but we also want to share our dye process for customers who want to do it themselves.
DIRECTIONS
Karate uniform material for some brands (including the white uniforms sold here at Martial Arts Party Store) can be dyed using fabric dyes available at craft and sewing stores. Not all brands of martial arts Gis are made from fibers that can absorb the dye. Check the dye package label for more information on the type of fabrics that can be dyed.
You want to always start your project using a white uniform with all patches removed. Use an old uniform as a test fabric to try different dye colors or compare results with different methods to dye. Old uniforms can be cut into test swatches. If you don't have an old uniform ask your instructor or team mates or try second hand clothing store which may have Gis. Be prepared for disappointment where your first effort to dye may not achieve the result you want. Adding more dye often will not darken a too light color.
In order to dye uniforms, they must be either machine washed or hand dipped in very hot water which may cause shrinkage. 100% cotton uniforms will not only tend to shrink in hot water but they also can absorb the dye unevenly. In a machine wash method you want to completely immerse the uniform using more water than normal. Uniforms may need more washing time than normal where to develop the color you may need to stop/restart the wash cycle before rinse cycle starts. The final color result will be much lighter than the wet garment appears.
Follow the dye label instructions to add salt, use the right temperature of hot water or add other products like white vinegar when called for. Some dyes call for course or non-idione salt so be sure to read the label. Table salt might generally has idione and course salt is not pourable.
Store brand dyes will not duplicate exactly our shade of pink uniforms where dyes will tend to be lighter or darker. Due to cotton/poly content in most martial arts uniforms, actual color of the finished product will vary sometimes with unexpected results. For example, higher poly contents will turn a purple dye more gray. Older uniforms that have been starched, bleached or chemically cleaned will have some residue from cleaners which may impact final dye color result. Even fresh, new uniforms will have chemicals from manufacturing process. Launder uniforms before applying dye in clean, fresh HOT water.
The key to having a good outcome with the dye is to start with a clean uniform as free of chemicals as possible. Liquid dyes can be easier than dry powder dyes to work with. In the washer method, add the dye after the machine fills, run the machine a minute or two to mix the dye and water, then add a wet uniform to the machine, being sure there is enough water to completely immerse the garment. Excess dye may not completely wash off in the rinse cycle where a second rinse is often needed.
A great project for Martial Arts students is to dye their own uniform any color of the rainbow - pink, purple, even lime green! A colored uniform can be used for parties or costumes. Colored uniforms can be signed by party guests. Have a special guest at your event? Have that person autograph the uniform and sell it at auction to raise money for a special cause.
We offer Martial Arts uniforms in red, blue, black and pink here at Martial Arts Party Store, but we also want to share our dye process for customers who want to do it themselves.
Karate uniform material for some brands (including the white uniforms sold here at Martial Arts Party Store) can be dyed using fabric dyes available at craft and sewing stores. Not all brands of martial arts Gis are made from fibers that can absorb the dye. Check the dye package label for more information on the type of fabrics that can be dyed.
You want to always start your project using a white uniform with all patches removed. Use an old uniform as a test fabric to try different dye colors or compare results with different methods to dye. Old uniforms can be cut into test swatches. If you don't have an old uniform ask your instructor or team mates or try second hand clothing store which may have Gis. Be prepared for disappointment where your first effort to dye may not achieve the result you want. Adding more dye often will not darken a too light color.
In order to dye uniforms, they must be either machine washed or hand dipped in very hot water which may cause shrinkage. 100% cotton uniforms will not only tend to shrink in hot water but they also can absorb the dye unevenly. In a machine wash method you want to completely immerse the uniform using more water than normal. Uniforms may need more washing time than normal where to develop the color you may need to stop/restart the wash cycle before rinse cycle starts. The final color result will be much lighter than the wet garment appears.
Follow the dye label instructions to add salt, use the right temperature of hot water or add other products like white vinegar when called for. Some dyes call for course or non-idione salt so be sure to read the label. Table salt might generally has idione and course salt is not pourable.
Store brand dyes will not duplicate exactly our shade of pink uniforms where dyes will tend to be lighter or darker. Due to cotton/poly content in most martial arts uniforms, actual color of the finished product will vary sometimes with unexpected results. For example, higher poly contents will turn a purple dye more gray. Older uniforms that have been starched, bleached or chemically cleaned will have some residue from cleaners which may impact final dye color result. Even fresh, new uniforms will have chemicals from manufacturing process. Launder uniforms before applying dye in clean, fresh HOT water.
The key to having a good outcome with the dye is to start with a clean uniform as free of chemicals as possible. Liquid dyes can be easier than dry powder dyes to work with. In the washer method, add the dye after the machine fills, run the machine a minute or two to mix the dye and water, then add a wet uniform to the machine, being sure there is enough water to completely immerse the garment. Excess dye may not completely wash off in the rinse cycle where a second rinse is often needed.
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