Dyeing nearly killed my Wested shirt (Pics)

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Swindiana
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Dyeing nearly killed my Wested shirt (Pics)

Post by Swindiana »

Well folks.. My shirt (and me) have been through some adventures lately.
Basically, I wanted my Wested shirt to have more of an MBA original/ToD colour than the lighter Raiders version of the Wested original.

Image

I got some "Sahara 32" dye made by a company called Nitor. The dye itself was very easy to use since it was in powder form within a small bag that you only had to throw in the washing machine with the fabric you wanted to dye. This, and some household NaCl. I also threw an old towel in there with the shirt to soak up some of the dye since I didn't want it too dark.
Image

The shade came out fine, though it had a yellow colour to it that looked... well... right off! :) (Always hard to show with pics, but hopefully you get the idea.)

My choices now stood between making it darker using grey, or making it darker with just a hint of brown. I found the "Khaki brown" by the same maker, but this time the dyeing process was a little different since the dye was kind of a liquid jell within a small plastic container. The container had a corner you were supposed to cut open, and this also allowed me to pour out some of the content I didn't need, I wanted it light. (Same towel accompanied the shirt in the washer again.) So... Out from the machine.... Looking very good... Excellent! Wait! Who spilled his blood all over my shirt?

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It was about know I realized why dying it by hand is better. (Dalexs is a wise man.) The dye had somehow intensified itself in small spots all over the shirt, despite me following the instructions like a nitpick on picknick. (?)
Desolving the dye in a bucket and soaking the shirt would probably have made for a better result.
I then got some remover, by the same company again, and tried my best to completely take out all of the dye, including the stains. Twice.
The stains were still fully there, but the brown was gone though the yellow held on tightly. (It looked so ugly I didn't ever bother shooting a picture.)

I was slightly distressed, but nothing compared to how my shirt felt.

Are you guys still reading? Wait, this story ends happily.

So... Yeah. I contacted "Nitor", as it were, telling a lovely lady about my problems.
-Well... That is not suppose to happen, she agreed. Send us the shirt and we will fix it for you.

Said and done. I sent the shirt away with some descriptions of what I wanted it to look like, including links to Indy in ToD, MBA shots from Indygear and a nice couple of shots of SJ's.

It arrived today! :D Though I had little fate they would actually be able to help me out, the shirt was perfect. And it even has the smallest-slightest light little shade of pink in sunlight, just as the MBA ones -

Image

The lady didn't say much of what they actually did to it, but they did manage to take all the colour out. They then used 5 grams of the "Khaki brown" mentioned, plus a small dash of Antracit at 40 degrees.

Long story, I know. But thanks for letting me show how happy I am with how it finally turned out. You gotta hand it to the professionals! ;)

Regards,
Swindiana
Last edited by Swindiana on Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Ghos7a55assin »

Wow. all that trouble....I think I appreciate my darker LL Bean shirt for once!

ray
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Post by Dalexs »

Wow, all that ot get back to the original MBA officer pinks!

I claim no responsiblilty for using off market dye products! :wink:
I like the way the shirt in indoor light looks.
I have to guess they put the shirt in remover but in a very hot water.
The washer method just doesn't work for that part.

I think you were close with the Khaki Brown. If you had washed it 1 or 2 more times immediately, it would have looked perfect I'll bet.

Glad things worked out.

Dalexs
Last edited by Dalexs on Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Swindiana »

That's what I did, a double wash directly to see if the stains would go away. The company had no clue as to why it happened either. :roll:

It indeed worked out for the best. Thanks. ;)

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Swindiana
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Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Wow... I'm glad it all worked out in the end! :shock:
And congrats on the new, HF-accurate color! Also glad you got rid of that inaccurate, glare-induced Cairo look.;-) Looks very much like an MBA now... which, in my book, is a good thing! :D
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Post by Ken »

Shirt looks good. I always did like the original MBA color myself.

Its funny: we used to dye the shirts to get it to the color we WANTED Noel's shirts to look and now they are gone and Pete rhas brought out a shirt in the color we wanted, we are DYING the shirts to get back to Noel's color.

It all comes down to what we see on screen Vs the color it acually is in reality to appear that way on screen.

Enjoy your shirt Swindiana!

Ken
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Post by JAN »

Well, Lars. As this must be a "non-tutorial" I am glad it turned out right.

It looks like the colour You finally got is very close to the LL.Bean-colour,
or am I wrong?

Best regards

JAN
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Post by Swindiana »

Thanks guys. :D
SJ; My book too! Must be double copies. ;)
Ken; I will! Though I will still probably tweak the size and the pocket flaps a bit.
JAN; Very much a "non-tutorial". Basically -don't do what I did and you'll be better off. :) As yours is the only LL.Bean-colour I've seen I'd say they are pretty similar. I guess mine has more of a pinkish brown in it, though the shade and "first glance look" are the same. It's hard to tell from memory though, we'll have to compare our shirts on the next summit buddy. ;)

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Swindiana
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Post by Indiana_Tom »

Personally I like the original MBA color more than the color of the actual Wested shirt. It's a way too bright if you ask me. it came out almost white in some of my photos, like here.

(BTW, I'm so lucky that I own a MBA shirt now :D )

Before I forget: Nice dyeing job, Swindiana! :wink:

Regards,

Tom
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

That was extremely cool of them to take a shot at the dyeing of that shirt themselves! Thanks for sharing that - J
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Post by Swindiana »

Indiana Jerry wrote:That was extremely cool of them to take a shot at the dyeing of that shirt themselves! Thanks for sharing that - J
I think so too. I was kind of surprized actually, having prepared for a -"You only have yourself to blame, it's the shirts' fault, your machine is junk, there's nothing we can do" and all that.
It sure gives faith into beleiving there is still folks out there taking responsability for their products when something like this happens.

Tom; Thanks for the credit. ;) I still think it would be neat if Wested would offer 2 different coloured shirts. It wouldn't bring the price up too much I think, not as much as making them custum tailored anyway.

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Swindiana
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Post by Indiana_Tom »

Swindiana wrote:Tom; Thanks for the credit. ;) I still think it would be neat if Wested would offer 2 different coloured shirts. It wouldn't bring the price up too much I think, not as much as making them custum tailored anyway.
You could be right. If the customer had the choice for chosing between two colors, that would be great.
Anyway, there are a few things I don't like about the Wested shirt (stiffness, too wide shoulder straps, color); so once again I don't regret having bought an MBA shirt. But that's just my opinion. Anyay now I got two similar shirts and I have the choice... :wink:
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Post by Skippy »

Nice outcome Lars :D :tup: Just goes to show what asking about what can be done does for you.

I'd of binned the shirt & forgotten about it at the 'blood stains' dye stage :?


BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem with rolling up the sleeves on their Wested shirt? I can't roll them past my elbows otherwise their tight enough to cut off the circulation!
Are the sleeves supposed to be THAT fitted? :-s
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Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Skippy wrote:BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem with rolling up the sleeves on their Wested shirt? I can't roll them past my elbows otherwise their tight enough to cut off the circulation!
Are the sleeves supposed to be THAT fitted? :-s
Yep - way too tight... I have to "pre-roll" the sleeves before I don the shirt. Can't get them past the elbows when wearing... :(
Don't believe they're supposed to be that fitted - the MBA sleeves are narrow (the whole shirt is more "fitted") but sleeves roll up just fine.
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Post by Swindiana »

Thanks John! :D

I have pretty thin arms, but will still agree that the Wested sleeves are a lot tougher to roll up than most of my other shirts that has the extra button and a longer slit design.
Is the MBA shirt designed like the Wested sleeve-wise, or could it just be that the Wested sleevs are "thinner"?

EDIT: Swindy got the name straight this time. :D

Regards,
Swindiana
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Post by Daniel Riser »

Scandinavia Jones wrote:
Skippy wrote:BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem with rolling up the sleeves on their Wested shirt? I can't roll them past my elbows otherwise their tight enough to cut off the circulation!
Are the sleeves supposed to be THAT fitted? :-s
Yep - way too tight... I have to "pre-roll" the sleeves before I don the shirt. Can't get them past the elbows when wearing... :(
Don't believe they're supposed to be that fitted - the MBA sleeves are narrow (the whole shirt is more "fitted") but sleeves roll up just fine.
Harrison rarely has the sleeves above his elbows. In Cairo they're just below, and if Andre Dometakis (the shirt's designer) was designing the shirt for a thirties influence, chances are he made it quite fitted. Look when he's got the shirt buttoned up, it looks like the buttons are going to pop.
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Post by Swindiana »

And that is one reason to why I wanted it taken waaay in. ;)
(Even more than what has already been done, actually.)

Regards,
Swindiana
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Post by Skippy »

Daniel Riser wrote:Harrison rarely has the sleeves above his elbows. In Cairo they're just below...
Yep, true, had noticed that :-k

Just not a practical fit for me & practical useability wins over screen accuracy every time with my gear :wink:
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