Name: Cameron

Message: Hello! I have a vintage dress that needs to be re-dyed. I don't know what the fabric content is. I believe it's from the mid-50s to early 60s. It's a Hawaiian/Asian style tunic and there is just a tag that says dry clean. I think it may be a silk rayon blend since many dresses in this style are made from that. What dye do you suggest I use, or am I better off letting a professional deal with it? thanks and great website

You can't dye it if it's not washable. Professionals will not dye anything that is dry-clean-only, either. If you are willing to risk it, try washing the dress. If it survives, you can consider dyeing it. 

I would recommend that you use a fiber reactive dye such as Procion MX dye, but only if the dress can be washed. You can do the dyeing in the washing machine: see "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?". Procion MX dye will work well on both silk and rayon. It will not work on polyester or acetate. 

You can find a commercial garment dyer who uses fiber reactive dyes on my page "Where can I find someone to dye my clothing for me?". Be sure to tell them that you prewashed it, how you washed it, and how well it survived the washing.

If you can snip off a bit of extra fabric from an inside hem, you can try testing the fiber content of the dress with a burn test.

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