Short answer: Colourfastness is how well a dyed or printed textile keeps its colour, resisting fading or running, when exposed to washing, light, rubbing, sweat and similar conditions. It is checked with standard tests and graded on rating scales.
What two sources say about Colourfastness
| Source page | Publisher | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Colorfastness | Wikipedia | Describes colour fastness as a textile material's resistance to fading or running, depending on how strongly dye binds to fibre and on processing. Lists wash, light, rub and perspiration fastness, test standards, and grey-scale grading. |
| Colour fastness | OpenLearn (The Open University) | Explains by example that a textile must keep its colour through rubbing, washing, sweat and sun, and that standard tests check this. Describes the wash test with a multifibre strip and greyscale rating. |
Key points
- Colour fastness is a textile's resistance to fading or running, and it depends on how strongly the dye binds to the fibre. [1]
- Processing methods and chemicals can also affect colour fastness. [1]
- Common conditions tested are washing, light, rubbing and perspiration (the second source also names sun exposure). [1, 2]
- Which tests apply depends on how the product will be used. [1]
- Test methods are set by bodies such as ISO, AATCC and, in the UK, the Society of Dyers and Colourists working with BSI. [1, 2]
- Grey scales grade colour change and staining; light fastness is rated 1 to 8 and wash fastness 1 to 5, with higher meaning better. [1]
Colourfastness compared with Wash fastness
| Aspect | Colourfastness | Wash fastness | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Resistance to fading or running across several agents: wash, light, rub, perspiration. | How well colour survives repeated laundering. | [1] |
| Rating scale | Light fastness is rated 1 to 8. | Wash fastness is rated 1 to 5. | [1] |
| Test method detail | Colour change and staining are rated against greyscales. | A sample sewn to a multifibre strip is washed with standard detergent at a set temperature, then graded with greyscales. | [1, 2] |
Where sources differ
Wikipedia and OpenLearn use slightly different lists of conditions. OpenLearn gives no formal definition and describes the wash test only. Rating scales differ by test (1 to 5 for wash, 1 to 8 for light in the Wikipedia page), and ISO and AATCC methods are not identical.
Questions to ask a supplier about Colourfastness
- [ ] Which colourfastness tests were done (wash, light, rubbing, perspiration)?
- [ ] Which standard and method were used (ISO or AATCC)?
- [ ] What grades were achieved for colour change and staining?
- [ ] Do the tests reflect the intended end use, for example home furnishing?
- [ ] Can a test report be provided for the specific fabric and colour?
Read next on this site
- Colour fastness tests for printed fabric: rubbing, washing and light
- Fabric printing methods for cushions and curtains: sublimation, pigment and reactive inks
- Dye ink vs pigment ink: what to know about fading on wall prints
More terms and explainers
- Digital textile printing
- Martindale test / rub count
- Non-woven wallpaper
- How to Read a Product Spec Sheet Before You Approve It
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Sources: [1] Wikipedia, fetched 2026-11-12; [2] OpenLearn (The Open University), fetched 2026-11-12. As of 2026-11-12. General information, not legal, customs or tax advice. Wording is paraphrased from the pages linked; your written quote and contract govern.