Product Overview

Summary: This SOP provides a clear, end-to-end framework for colour selection and fabric dyeing, ensuring repeatable results that meet Australian customer and regulatory expectations. It standardises how colours are specified, tested, approved, and applied to fabric so your production team can deliver consistent, commercially viable colour every time.

The "Colour Selection and Fabric Dye Process Standard Operating Procedure" is designed for Australian textile, apparel, and soft furnishings businesses that need reliable, repeatable colour outcomes across multiple production runs and suppliers. Colour inconsistency is one of the most common and expensive quality issues in textiles – leading to rejected batches, rework, delays in product launches, and damaged brand reputation. This SOP provides a structured, documented process that links design intent, colour standards, lab dip approvals, bulk dyeing, and final quality checks into one coherent workflow.

The procedure defines how colours are briefed and specified (including Pantone or digital colour references), how lab dips are requested, reviewed and approved, and how dye recipes are developed, verified, and transferred to bulk production. It addresses fabric characteristics, pre-treatment requirements, dye selection, process controls such as time, temperature and pH, and post-dye finishing steps that influence final colour appearance and fastness. By implementing this SOP, businesses gain tighter control over colour accuracy, reduce waste and re-dyeing, and improve collaboration between designers, suppliers, and production teams – all while aligning with Australian consumer expectations and relevant standards for colour fastness and chemical use.

Key Benefits

• Standardise the colour selection and approval process from design brief through to bulk production.
• Reduce costly re-dyeing, wastage, and rejected batches caused by colour variation and miscommunication.
• Improve colour consistency across different fabrics, mills, and production runs for a more reliable product range.
• Streamline communication between design, product development, suppliers, and production teams with clear responsibilities and checkpoints.
• Support compliance with relevant Australian standards for colour fastness and chemical use in textiles.

Who is this for?

• Production Managers
• Textile Dye House Supervisors
• Garment Manufacturers
• Fabric Technologists
• Quality Assurance Managers
• Product Development Managers
• Fashion and Apparel Designers
• Procurement and Sourcing Managers
• Laboratory Technicians (Textile Testing)
• Operations Managers in Textile and Apparel Businesses

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (Colour Standards, Lab Dips, Shade Tolerance, Metamerism)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Design, QA, Laboratory, Production, Suppliers)
• 4.0 Colour Briefing and Selection Process
• 5.0 Colour Standards, References and Tolerances
• 6.0 Lab Dip Request, Evaluation and Approval Procedure
• 7.0 Fabric Assessment and Pre-treatment Requirements
• 8.0 Dye Class and Chemical Selection Guidelines
• 9.0 Dye Recipe Development and Verification
• 10.0 Bulk Dyeing Process Controls (Time, Temperature, Liquor Ratio, pH, Agitation)
• 11.0 Post-dye Washing, Finishing and Drying Requirements
• 12.0 Colour Assessment Methods (Visual Assessment, Light Boxes, Instrumental Measurement)
• 13.0 Colour Fastness Testing and Quality Acceptance Criteria
• 14.0 Non-conformance Management and Corrective Actions
• 15.0 Documentation, Batch Records and Traceability
• 16.0 Supplier Management and Communication Protocols
• 17.0 Continuous Improvement and Review of Dye Processes

Legislation & References

• AS 2001.4.B02: Methods of test for textiles – Colourfastness tests – Colourfastness to washing
• AS 2001.4.B04: Methods of test for textiles – Colourfastness tests – Colourfastness to rubbing
• AS 2001.4.B08: Methods of test for textiles – Colourfastness tests – Colourfastness to artificial light
• AS/NZS ISO 105 series: Textiles – Tests for colour fastness
• Product Safety Australia guidance on textile products and chemical use
• Applicable retailer or brand-specific Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) used in the Australian market