What Is Color Fastness?
Color fastness is the resistance of the color in a textile product to the effects it encounters during use and maintenance. The ISO 105 series defines a separate test for each effect. Each experiment produces two separate results: color change in the sample and contamination of the white companion fabric with which the sample comes into contact.
Purpose of Color Fastness
The goal is to determine how long the color will last over its lifetime and whether it will stain other products. Color transfer is a common cause of customer complaints, especially when dark products are washed with light-colored products.
Which Products Is Color Fastness Applied To?
- All dyed and printed textile products
- Ready-made garments
- Home textiles
- upholstery fabrics
- Leather and synthetic leather products
In Which Sectors Is Color Fastness Used?
Standards Related to Color Fastness
- TS EN ISO 105-A01 (genel ilkeler)
- TS EN ISO 105-A02 (color change gray scale)
- TS EN ISO 105-A03 (contamination gray scale)
- TS EN ISO 105-F series (companion fabrics)
- TS EN ISO 105-C06, -X12, -E04, -B02, -E01 (textile — impact-based tests)
- TS EN ISO 11640 (leather — back and forth rubbing fastness)
- TS EN ISO 15701 (leather — color migration to polymer material)
- TS EN ISO 17700 (shoe upper materials — color fastness)
Color Fastness Conditions
- companion fabric
- Multi-fiber or mono-fiber white fabric conforming to ISO 105-F series
- Assessment
- Under D65 light source in standard lighting cabinet
- Scale
- 1–5 gri skala; 5 en iyi
Equipment for Color Fastness
- Standard illuminated color evaluation booth
- ISO 105-A02 and A03 gray scales
- Spectrophotometer (for instrumental evaluation)
- Effects-based experimental devices
Sample Requirements for Color Fastness
- Separate samples for each color and each printing pattern
- Sample size is defined in the relevant ISO 105 section
- Accompanying fabric is prepared together with the sample
- An untreated reference sample should be reserved for evaluation.
Duration of Color Fastness
The duration varies depending on the test applied: rubbing fastness may take minutes, washing fastness may take hours, and light fastness may take days depending on the desired level of blue wool.
Color Fastness Procedure
- 1The sample and accompanying fabric are prepared according to the relevant ISO 105 section.
- 2The defined effect (washing, rubbing, sweat, light, water) is applied.
- 3The sample is dried and conditioned.
- 4Color change is evaluated with the A02 scale and contamination with the A03 scale.
- 5At least two evaluators give independent grades.
- 6Notes for each effect are reported separately.
Color Fastness Acceptance Criteria
The standard defines the measurement method, not the passing score. The acceptance threshold is determined by the customer specification; Most retail chains require higher marks for underwear and light colours. When no specification is given, the report reports only the measured grade.
Evaluation of Results
The result is given as a gray scale score of 1–5: color change is evaluated according to the ISO 105-A02 scale, contamination is evaluated according to the ISO 105-A03 scale. 5 means no change, 1 means the most severe change. Intermediate notes (such as 4-5, 3-4) are used.
Color Fastness Report
- Sample description, color and printing information
- ISO 105 parts applied
- Color change note for each experiment
- Contamination note for each fiber in the companion fabric
- Evaluation conditions and light source
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EU 1007/2011 (textile fibre names and labelling)
- EU 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII (restricted substances in textiles)
- Regulation on the Naming of Textile Products
Tekstil Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Color Fastness test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Textile testing answers two questions separately: does the fabric hold up physically over its service life, and does it carry any substance restricted for human health? These two axes require different laboratory infrastructure and different decision mechanisms.
On the physical side, breaking and tear strength, abrasion resistance, pilling, dimensional change, colour fastness and water and oil repellency are measured. Most of these tests depend on the USE SCENARIO: Martindale abrasion cycles are decisive for an upholstery fabric, while dimensional change in washing and colour fastness come to the fore for a shirting fabric. The same fabric goes through a different test set for a different use.
Colour fastness is a body of work of its own in this field and is not a single test. The fastness of the same fabric to light, washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, chlorinated water and ironing is measured separately; each represents a different moment of use. Results are rated from 1 to 5 on the grey scale and the specification gives a separate minimum rating for each agent.
On the chemical side, aromatic amines released from azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, alkylphenols and PFAS compounds are screened. These items come from REACH restrictions, brand restricted substance lists (RSL) and voluntary schemes such as OEKO-TEX. Brand lists are often stricter than legislation; the target customer is decisive.
There is NO CE marking on consumer textiles. The obligation has three legs: fibre composition and care labelling, compliance with chemical restrictions, and general product safety. Textiles claiming a protective function (workwear, flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility clothing) fall under personal protective equipment legislation, where CE is mandatory — this distinction is commercially critical.
Verifying the label declaration is the most routine work in the field. Quantitative fibre analysis confirms the blend ratio stated on the label; tolerance ranges are defined in legislation. An incorrect fibre declaration both misleads the consumer and affects customs classification.
Sustainability claims have added a new body of work to the field in recent years: verification of recycled content (GRS, RCS), organic content (GOTS), restriction of harmful chemicals and water/energy footprint declarations. These claims now require auditable evidence.
Method groups in this field
Strength and durability
Strip and grab breaking strength, tearing by the Elmendorf and tongue methods, seam strength, bursting strength.
Abrasion and surface
Martindale and rotary platform abrasion, pilling and fuzzing, fabric mass and thread density measurements.
Dimensional stability
Dimensional change in washing and drying, wrinkling behaviour, appearance after ironing.
Colour fastness
Fastness to light (xenon), washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, water and chlorinated water; rating on the grey scale.
Functional properties
Water repellency (spray test), oil repellency, waterproofness, air permeability, effectiveness of antibacterial finishes, UV protection factor.
Chemical analyses
Aromatic amines from azo dyes, formaldehyde, pH, heavy metals, phthalates, chlorinated phenols, PFAS and alkylphenols.
Commonly confused in this field
- A brand restricted substance list (RSL) may be stricter than legislation; REACH compliance does not mean compliance with the customer specification.
- Textiles claiming a protective function fall under PPE legislation and require CE; an ordinary textile test report does not satisfy that file.
- Colour fastness is not a single number; a rating cannot be interpreted without stating which agent it relates to.
- A result obtained for a fabric does not cover the whole garment made from it; lining, sewing thread, print and trims are assessed separately.
- Performance claims after washing are valid together with the stated number of wash cycles; the word "permanent" on its own is not verifiable.
Which decisions these results support
- Compliance with the brand restricted substance list (RSL)
- Verification of label declarations: fibre composition and care instructions
- Determining the performance class of upholstery and technical textiles
- Pre-import shipment inspection and lot acceptance
- Supporting sustainability and recycled content claims
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Color Fastness
Is a single fastness test enough?
It is not enough. Each effect is a separate experiment: a wash-resistant color may fade in the light, a light-resistant color may bleed with sweat. The way the product is used determines what tests are required.
Why is the companion fabric so fibrous?
Because color transfer varies depending on the fiber type. The multi-fibre companion fabric combines acetate, cotton, nylon, polyester, acrylic and wool strips; Thus, it is seen which fiber is contaminated in a single test.
Is ISO 105 also used for leather products?
The rating scales (A02/A03) are common, but the experiments are different. ISO 11640 is used for back and forth rubbing on leather, ISO 15701 is used for color migration to polymer, and ISO 17700 is used for shoe upper materials. A fastness report for textiles does not include the leather component.