Prepared for Dye Fabrics (PFD)

After weaving, natural cotton is an off-white/ivory color. If it's going to be dyed, sold as a prepared for dye fabric, or made into a white fabric, it must be processed to remove any oils and sizing from the weaving process. Although, it's called 'bleaching' the fabric, bleach is not used. It's actually 'bleached' using a combination of a wetting agent, soda ash, stabilizer, peroxide and caustic. Once this process is done, it is clean of impurities and 'prepared for dye'. To make the fabric white, optical brightener is added. Ever notice that white shirts glow under a black light? Optical brightener is what causes it to glow. Many people assume white fabric is ideal for dyeing, however, dyeing white fabric can be very problematic. It can cause colors to turn out dull, blotchy, and bleeding will most likely be an issue after it's dyed. Dyeing prepared for dye fabrics or prepared for dye garments is unquestionably the right choice if you're looking to produce a high-quality product for yourself or your business. This is something that should not be overlooked.