How Pigment Dyeing Differs from Reactive Dyeing
Standard t-shirts use reactive dyes, where dye molecules chemically bond with the cellulose molecules inside the cotton fiber, ensuring maximum wash fastness and permanent color. Pigment dyeing takes the opposite approach.
Pigments have no natural chemical affinity for cotton. The garment is first treated with a positively charged cationic polymer. Negatively charged pigment color particles are introduced into the bath and cling electrostatically to the fiber exterior. A heat-curing phase locks the binder in place.
Because the core of the cotton yarn remains un-dyed, everyday friction and laundry cycles gradually expose the lighter core on collars, cuffs, and seam edges, yielding an iconic vintage washed aesthetic.
