Dip-dye effect
Also known as: Ombre effect
Ombre colour gradient created by partially dipping the garment into a dye bath.
Description
Dip-dye effect describes a decorative colour gradient created by partial, controlled dipping of a garment or fabric into a dye bath. The upper end of the garment stays undyed (white or base colour), the dipped end shows full colour. A soft transition arises between the two zones because the dye bath is slowly lowered or the garment slowly pulled out.
In industry dip dye often takes place on garments rather than yardage: a T-shirt or blouse is hung on a hook above a dye tank, the bath is slowly raised and lowered by a height mechanism. Over 20-40 minutes a soft gradient forms with a clearly visible colour transition. After dyeing the piece is rinsed, heat-set and dried.
The dip-dye effect has been trending again since the 2010s, often combined with bleach dye (light zone) or overdye (dark blue on light blue). Individual boutique brands offer dip dye as a craft process, large brands produce the look industrially in washing machines with targeted additives. The effect can also be simulated with spray or airbrush techniques.
Properties
| Process | Partial dip dyeing with gradient |
|---|---|
| Result | Ombre effect, soft gradient |
| Colour fastness | Dye-dependent, mostly good with reactive |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Tie-Dye Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tie-Dye
- Vogue: Dip Dye Trend vogue.com https://www.vogue.com/
