Textile and Apparel Science

The Effect of Repeated Laundering Up to 50 Cycles on the Spectrum of Color in Naturally Colored Cotton for Apparel Products

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Abstract

This study investigates the impact of repeated laundering up to 50 cycles on the color spectrum of naturally colored cotton fabrics for apparel. It aims to understand how laundering affects color lightness and intensity. Two naturally colored cotton jersey knit fabrics in the same light brown shade, but different weights were tested. Color was measured at multiple intervals by a spectrophotometer. This study revealed that the two fabrics in different weights exhibited similar color retention characteristics. Initially, the fabrics darkened slightly after 1 to 10 cycles, then became lighter after 20 cycles, with further lightening observed after 50 cycles. The color intensity of both redness and yellowness significantly weakened with more laundry cycles. The results confirm that naturally colored cotton is a great choice for apparel products because of its ability to meet the ASTM standard requirement for acceptable color retention after repeated laundering up to 50 cycles.

Keywords: Naturally Colored Cotton, Repeated Laundering, Color, Lightness, Intensity

How to Cite:

Chen-Yu, J. & Cho, S., (2025) “The Effect of Repeated Laundering Up to 50 Cycles on the Spectrum of Color in Naturally Colored Cotton for Apparel Products”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21875