Garment Dye Service: Custom Colours for Your Blank Garments

Garment dyeing means dyeing a finished garment after it has been sewn, rather than cutting it from fabric that was dyed on the roll. At Vend Fabrics we garment dye our blanks to any Pantone shade, with custom colours from 30 units. It's the simplest way to get a garment in your exact brand colour without committing to hundreds of metres of custom-dyed fabric.

What is garment dyeing?

With piece-dyed fabric, the colour is set before the garment is cut and sewn. With garment dyeing, a finished blank, usually in a light base such as ecru, goes into the dye bath as a whole garment. Body, rib, seams and stitching all take the colour together.

Because the garment is dyed after it's made, it can shrink a little in the process. That's why our ecru blanks are cut slightly larger than the black colourways: the extra allows for shrinkage during garment dyeing.

Why brands choose garment dyeing

• Your exact colour – match a Pantone reference rather than settling for the nearest stock shade.
• Small runs – custom colours start from 30 units, so a new brand can launch its own shade without a fabric minimum.
• A distinctive finish – garment-dyed pieces have a softer, lived-in character that reads differently from piece-dyed blanks.
• Ready to decorate – dyed garments can then be finished with DTG, DTF, screen printing or embroidery.

Which blanks can be garment dyed?

Garment dyeing to any Pantone colour is available across our blank clothing collection. Ecru is the usual starting point; we explain why ecru is the usual base for garment dyeing in a separate guide. Good bases include:

• 320 GSM ultra heavy t-shirt in ecru – 100% cotton jersey, oversized boxy fit.
• 265 GSM oversized t-shirt in ecru – 100% cotton jersey, high ribbed neckline.
• 325 GSM long sleeve in ecru – classic relaxed fit, slightly cropped body.
• 350 GSM relaxed fit hoodie in ecru – 100% cotton mid-weight.

Two finished examples: our Chocolate Torte long sleeve, garment dyed to Pantone 19-1109 TCX, and our 380 GSM hoodie in Olive Drab, garment dyed to Pantone 18-0622 TCX.

How it works

1. Choose your garment – pick a blank from the range above.
2. Send your Pantone reference – along with your size breakdown.
3. We dye and dispatch – we garment dye, check and send your order.

For our 30-unit custom shade 320 GSM t-shirt order, you check out online, email your size breakdown and Pantone reference, and turnaround is 7–10 days. For other garments, contact our team for a quote and lead time.

Before committing to a full colourway, it's worth ordering a sample and wash-testing it; our guide on how to sample blank t-shirts walks through the process.

Garment dye or pigment dye?

Pigment dyeing is a different process that gives a more faded, washed-out look. If you're choosing between the two finishes, read our comparison of garment dye vs pigment dye.

FAQ

What is the minimum order for a custom garment-dyed colour?

Custom colours start from 30 units.

How long does garment dyeing take?

Our 30-unit custom shade 320 GSM t-shirt order has a 7–10 day turnaround. For other garments, ask us for a lead time.

What colour reference do I need to send?

A Pantone reference, so we have a clear target shade to match.

Will garment-dyed blanks shrink?

Garments can shrink slightly during dyeing, which is why our ecru blanks are cut slightly larger than the black colourways.

Can I print or embroider on a garment-dyed blank?

Yes. We offer DTG, DTF, screen printing and embroidery on our blanks.

Why start from ecru rather than white?

Our ecru blanks are made as a base for garment dyeing and are cut slightly larger to allow for shrinkage. A white blank can work for some shades; our ecru vs white guide above covers the trade-offs.

Ready to build a colourway? Browse our wholesale blanks, then get in touch with your Pantone reference.