How to Care for Garment-Dyed T-Shirts

Garment-dyed tees have a look and feel that regular tees don't: that soft, worn-in color comes from dyeing the finished garment rather than the raw fabric. The tradeoff is that the dye can shift if you don't treat it right. Here's how to keep yours looking great.

Wash Cold, Always

Hot water is the enemy of garment-dyed fabric. It breaks down the dye faster and can cause uneven fading. Cold water on a gentle cycle is all you need. It cleans the shirt just as effectively and protects the color.

Wash Inside Out

Turn your shirt inside out before it goes in the wash. This reduces friction on the outer surface where the print and dye sit, which means both hold up longer. It takes two seconds and makes a real difference over dozens of washes.

Skip the Bleach and Fabric Softener

Bleach is obvious, but fabric softener is a quieter problem. It coats the fibers in a way that dulls the color over time and can interfere with the soft hand feel that makes garment-dyed fabric nice. Skip both.

Tumble Dry Low or Air Dry

High heat in the dryer is just as damaging as hot water in the wash. Low heat or air drying preserves both the color and the fit. If you're in a hurry, low heat is fine. If you have time, hang it up.

Expect Some Evolution

Garment-dyed shirts are supposed to soften and shift slightly over time. That's the point. The color won't stay exactly as it was on day one, and that's a feature, not a flaw. Treat it right and it'll develop a character that mass-produced tees never do.

All our tees are printed on high-quality garment-dyed blanks. Questions about a specific product? Reach out on the Contact page.