PIGMENT DYED EXPLAINED FOR ROOKIES

Pigment Dye Explained for Newbies
(Quick, Clear, No Brain Fog Version)

If you’re new to streetwear or building a brand, pigment dye can feel like some secret VIP process nobody wants to explain. So here’s the fast, zero-confusion breakdown—exactly how you wish someone would've told you on day one.

What Even Is Pigment Dye?

Pigment dye is not your regular garment dye. It uses strong, non-reactive pigments that sit on top of the fabric instead of fully soaking in.
Think of it like layers of color that create that textured, vintage, slightly faded look everybody loves.

It’s not flat.
Not solid.
Not “perfect.”
That dimension is the entire vibe.

Why Is It So Expensive?

Because pigment dye is a headache—and an art.

• High damage rate: We lose about 2–3 pieces out of every 10. Yup, that many.

• The process itself costs more: The chemicals, the technique, the QC—everything.

• Most suppliers don’t want the stress: That’s why you barely see real pigment-dyed blanks out there.

So when you see a higher price tag… that’s why. It’s not hype. It’s survival.

Why Sizes Come Out… “Different”

Garments for pigment dye must be cut and sewn bigger on purpose.

After dyeing, they shrink down—sometimes unevenly—so a Medium might fit between a Medium and a Large.
But it will never shrink smaller than the intended size.

That slight variation?
Totally normal.
It’s part of the pigment dye personality.

The Final Look

Pigment dye = worn-in, washed-down, vintage energy.

If you're starting a brand, understand this now so you’re not confused later when:

• A Large looks more “relaxed” than your regular Large

• Colors look slightly different batch to batch

• Pieces feel more lived-in—because that’s literally the point

This isn’t a flaw.
This is the magic.

Why We Still Do It

Sixelar does pigment dye because the brands we supply demand uniqueness—real texture, real fade, real character. Not cookie-cutter blanks.

It’s rare, it’s tricky, but it hits every time.

Quick Recap (for the real short attention spans):

• Pigment dye = layered, vintage, textured look

• Expensive because lots get damaged and the process is intense

• Sizes vary slightly—totally normal

• Hardly any suppliers mess with it

• If you want real vintage vibes for your brand, this is the move.