Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Dying tips for unusual cirumstances

RFLowings

New in Town
Messages
5
Location
Great Britain
Good day to you all, Ladies and gentlemen.
As my maiden post on the Fedora Lounge, I thought I'd present you with a problem I've just encountered in a recent Ebay process.

Due to a mixture of decidedly vague description and my own over-zealous eye for a bargain, I recently purchased a double-breasted blazer (described as both 'black' and 'navy', which really should have rung alarm bells) with a view to pressing it into service as a stroller in a Black Lounge ensemble. Suffice to say, I discovered that the lovely jacket which I unwrapped this morning was a very dark Midnight Blue rather than the black I had expected. My own damn silly fault but there you go.

In any case, my knee-jerk sartorial pedantry could not quite handle this discrepancy and thus I have been having a lurk online for tips on dying wool suit jackets, in this case dark blue to black, and it seems to be a fairly contentious issue which I'd appreciate a Fedora Lounge perspective on.

As it looks to me, the two main obstacles encountered with re-dying a jacket are the risk of uneven or patchy dying and the risk of shrinking. However:

~The Jacket needs a bit of taking in around the waist anyway so shrinking may not be an issue unless it seriously undermines the shoulder fit.

~Given that the present midnight blue is so close to the black shade I'm looking for it seems unlikely that the same problems will be encountered with patchy colour transfer. All it needs is a slight darkening.

So, following that lengthy explanation of my quandry, what does the Lounge recommend? I'm not certain what sort of dye I should be using... or even if dying is a good idea in the circumstances. Am I being obsessive? It's a lovely jacket so I'd rather it served some purpose or went to a good home than be ruined by some botched dye job. But similarly, if I can set it to its intended semi-formal purpose then that's what I shall do.
Thoughts, ladies and gents? I'm much obliged for any advice you can offer.
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
I agree with Feraud. Leave it as is and enjoy the midnight blue. Welcome to the Lounge! ;)
 

Fletch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,865
Location
Iowa - The Land That Stuff Forgot
Don't dye. Don't even ask why.

I had enough misery trying to put a redye onto a leather jacket, and that's cake compared to a finely tailored wool garment.

What you are up against is a dying (pardon the pun) industrial craft, born out of keen competition for a market of industrial customers, who themselves were highly competitive. The trade secrets and subtleties surrounding this or that product, process, or material are potentially limitless. The mistakes you can make are also potentially limitless. One little piece of missing knowledge can ruin the project.

This kind of thing is worth learning only for its trade value, which is rapidly fading. Doing it for the sake of one garment, or even your own wardrobe, is just too costly in time, money and mistakes.
 

GBR

One of the Regulars
Messages
288
Location
UK
Wear it, sell it, burn it.

Dyeing will not work and all you would have a a garment with non-fast colour coming out on your shirts etc - and possibly patchy with it.

Next time be more careful.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
108,995
Messages
3,072,335
Members
54,039
Latest member
GloriaJama
Top