Redyeing Denim? Can it be done?

[flat-top]

Once again, I somehow purchased something 20 years ago that looks exactly like something I would purchase now.
It's a dark ,no longer rigid denim work/ prison style jacket.
It was in storage forever, and when I found it, it had bizarre (not bleach) fade marks:

They are prominent. I attempted to color them in with a blue fabric marker and that was useless. I'd love to dye these parts, but not the entire jacket since that would ruin the white contrast stitching.
Any suggestions?

 

[Feraud]

It seems like a hard task to match the color.

I like it as is. Shows character.

 

[Bird's One View]

Denim is woven with white weft threads and dyed warp threads. There is no way to match this after the cloth is made.

 

[Doug C]

I've read recently that workers in the Levis factory used to spot dye small areas of the denim during production, areas that would not be as dark as they should be. I think it mentioned (or I imagined) them useing cotton balls dipped in indigo dye without getting the area soaked but just lightly rubbed over the top of the denim. Perhaps it was a write up on the history of Cone denim.. can't remember exactly, but I'll see if I can find it. The point is though, that may be an option as you can buy small pieces of true indigo dye crystals for around $10 shipped, for the purposes of makeing your own vat of dye. http://www.aurorasilk.com/natural_dyes/dyes/dye_indigo.html, maybe contact Aurora for advice before you purchase, I bet they could help.

Doug C

 

[mattfink]

You definitely don't want to dye the white stitching on the jacket....might just have to wear this one rough house.

 

[Paisley]

You could try Mrs. Stewart's Bluing. Use it in the wash or rinse. It makes whites whiter and blues bluer. It won't get rid of the white spots, but may make them less prominent without damaging the jacket.

 

[MrBern]

Once again, I somehow purchased something 20 years ago that looks exactly like something I would purchase now.
It's a dark ,no longer rigid denim work/ prison style jacket.
It was in storage forever, and when I found it, it had bizarre (not bleach) fade marks:

They are prominent. I attempted to color them in with a blue fabric marker and that was useless. I'd love to dye these parts, but not the entire jacket since that would ruin the white contrast stitching.
Any suggestions?

Have you washed it to make sure its not a permanent fade mark? It could be a stain.

 

[flat-top]

Have you washed it to make sure its not a permanent fade mark? It could be a stain.

I tried. It's indeed a fade.

 

[Doug C]

ok, I'll try again.... I had a stain on a pair of LVC 501s a couple of months ago. They had one soak and one wash on 'em, so they were not new/raw denim but still a very dark pair of jeans. I believe the stain was mustard if I remember correctly. Anyhow, not wanting to wash them again so soon (because I try to wash denim as little as possible for optimum eventual fade), I took them to the bathroom sink and basically rinsed the mustard away with cool water. I also used a stiff plastic brush to spot scrubbed/wash the area. I didn't use any soap and btw the mustard was not dry either. The mustard was quickly gone but I continued scrubbing a bit longer to rid it of odor. After I finished the white bristles of the brush were a dark indigo color. SO, my suggestion is to wet the area around the faded spots and including the spots (let the areas soak in the water a bit to loosen the dye) and use a scrub brush to try and move some of the indigo around. I'd use very hot water if it were me. It's probably more likely to work if the shirt hasn't been washed all that much, but either way it's worth a try. Good Luck!
Doug C

 

[flat-top]

ok, I'll try again.... I had a stain on a pair of LVC 501s a couple of months ago. They had one soak and one wash on 'em, so they were not new/raw denim but still a very dark pair of jeans. I believe the stain was mustard if I remember correctly. Anyhow, not wanting to wash them again so soon (because I try to wash denim as little as possible for optimum eventual fade), I took them to the bathroom sink and basically rinsed the mustard away with cool water. I also used a stiff plastic brush to spot scrubbed/wash the area. I didn't use any soap and btw the mustard was not dry either. The mustard was quickly gone but I continued scrubbing a bit longer to rid it of odor. After I finished the white bristles of the brush were a dark indigo color. SO, my suggestion is to wet the area around the faded spots and including the spots (let the areas soak in the water a bit to loosen the dye) and use a scrub brush to try and move some of the indigo around. I'd use very hot water if it were me. It's probably more likely to work if the shirt hasn't been washed all that much, but either way it's worth a try. Good Luck!
Doug C

Thanks Doug! I'll probably try this.