Message: Hello,
  Let me start by saying that I think you have an amazing website!  You certainly know your stuff when it comes to dyeing.  That said, I have read your website as much as possible but I am still a little confused with how to approach my dyeing project.

   I am trying to (hoping to, really) dye a polyester soccer jersey (Adidas, vintage mid-late 1990s) a solid Orange color.  It is not nylon satin, and it is a very thin 100% polyester.  However, it does have a weave to it where there is a repeating series of 3 thin vertical stripes that are somewhat shiny like nylon satin.  It does not require drycleaning, and the tag says to machine wash cold.

I have been reading your website and if I understand correctly, it looks like I would need a dispersion dye or an acid dye.  Is this correct?  I assume an all-purpose dye like RIT will not work properly?

I can take and send pictures to you if that might help you understand more clearly of what I have here.

I appreciate your time and thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer.


Hi Drew,

Since your jersey is made of polyester, you will have to use disperse dyes to dye it. Acid dyes and all-purpose dyes will not work on polyester. Disperse dye is the only kind of dye that will work on polyester.

The differently woven stripes are probably polyester, as well. The different texture could be just the result of a different weave, crossing more warp threads with each weft thread. 

Unfortunately, polyester can be dyed only at high heat, either by boiling it with the dye, or by making a design on paper with the disperse dye, and then transferring it with a hot iron. Obviously, the latter technique will fail to produce a solid color.

Since the care label says to wash in cold water, there is a strong possibility that the shirt will respond poorly to being boiled. Are you willing to take the risk?

You don't mention what the original color of the jersey is. If it's white, then bright orange is easy to produce. Pale yellow can also be overdyed to bright orange. Other colors, such as red, blue, or green, will be impossible to dye orange.

If you want to try dyeing this piece, you will have to buy your dyes by mail-order. I recommend you look at PRO Chemical & Dye or Aljo Mfg., since both are located on the east coast, as you are. You can find contact info for both on my page of "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World".

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