Originally Posted by Lori S
I am very familiar with the production methods of batik and hand dyed fabric. Not all the batiks sold are quite so "cottage industry" that measures/techniques can not be used to make the finished product sold to us consumers more "project" ready.
Having gone through a enormous volume of batiks ( as a consumer) and having the high risk of bleed in every single batik.... it just seems that they ( manufactures) have not fully acknoledged that this is an issue. When selecting batiks for a project. I have never had a LQS owner ever even suggest that a batik might bleed and that special care should be taken prior to the use, or in washing.
My question was just is it cost ? do we they really know what the costs could be? have they( the manufactures) explored this issue? have they explored altering the process or dyes ?
I know how they are made now... and the difference in hand dyes vs batik vs water color "batiks". As far as the cost goes , the process is aready cost intensive, materials, labor ect. If the cost is 1/2 of what the consumer pays ( typically) that makes the product cost ruffly $5.00 per yard ( included greige goods , dyes. labor transport etc) Figuring the dyes are labor are represntative of 1/3 the cost ( high side) that makes this part at a cost of $1.65 .... not all the dyes costs and labor would be a complete duplication so use an additional 40 percent ( high) additional cost .. that would make the final cost to the market at a ruff very high estimate of additional .66 cents.. translated to 1.32 additional cost to the final consumer. This is very ruff high estimating, and believe the true additional cost to be lower. Having seen some of the "equipment" used , it is not all that unsuitable for the same or simialiar process we use in a truely small dyeing operation ( ie a yard or two) except on a larger scale.
The current processes used now are far from being Eco - freindly...
The demand for batiks has not diminshed , so treating this segment as fad ( by a manufacture) an being less than diligent in producing a product that has no comsumer flaws( ie bleeding and running), would be something I would think the manufacture would want to improve apon, so I posed the question in my post "why do they not make a batik that will not run or bleed?".
This is really just an inquiring mind really wanting to know!
What I was referring to was the costs involved in acquiring the equipment, chemicals and extra waste disposal costs involved in making the fabrics "color-fast" and the additional manufacturing steps required. These are automated in other types of fabric production. Most of the batiks and hand-dyes made are made by small producers, by hand, so this technology wouldn't probably be cost-effective for them.
I guess the question comes down to "Do they need to change methods to keep consumers buying their product?" And the answer seems to be "probably not."
I'm sorry that your LQS isn't cognizant of the fact that most batiks and hand-dyes will bleed or run when washed. In our online store, we send the following insert with every order that contains a batik or hand-dye:
(Store Logo)
Thank you for your purchase of these batik and/or hand-dyed fabrics!
PLEASE NOTE: MOST HAND-DYED FABRICS WILL BLEED WHEN WASHED! Darker colors will bleed out more than lighter colors. We suggest that you pre-wash all hand-dyed fabrics with a concentrated surfactant such as SYNTHRAPOL, or a dye-setter such as Retayne, being careful to follow the manufacturers instructions. Use of a “color-catcher” such as Shout brand Color Catcher Sheets is recommended for the finished project’s first washing.
QKO does not accept returns on any fabrics after they have been washed or because they bleed while being washed or used. Please contact us with any questions concerning our policy on these fabrics. Thanks!