Bridal Heirloom Package Disclaimer

This service includes 1 dress, or suit set. Additional accessories or samples may be extra.

For additional garments or accessories, additional fees may apply.

This fee includes color sampling. If you have yardage from the same fabric your dress is made from, our team can sample this fabric to find a dye recipe that produces your desired color outcome.. This means in advance of your dress being dyed, our team can demonstrate (3) shade variations of the color you are interested in having your dress dyed. We will return these swatches to you to select the final color you would like us to dye your dress. Please note: The fabric must be the same fabric that your dress is made from.

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of natural dyes, there could be slight variations from the swatch to the final garment or yardage.

A note on shipping: Green Matters Studio will cover the cost of return shipping for US-based retail clients. We will not cover shipping for wholesale or international clients. As we have a business account with shipping carriers, we can generate a shipping label for any of our clients (retail, wholesale, and international) and add to your invoice. We get a discounted rate and this may be more affordable for you.

Lead Time:

The lead time for custom dyed items is up to 4 weeks. An additional 4 weeks may be needed if the client would like us to develop color samples. We can provide shipping labels for you to mail your fabric and garment to us.

Crocking and Color Transfer:

Some of our dyes may exhibit slight color transfer after wearing or rubbing on the first use. This varies between dyes and fibers. We find Indigo almost always crocks on the first use, and is more noticeable when applied to protein fibers like wool. We advise that you wash all naturally dyed items alone/with like colors in cold water for the first wash. 

pH sensitivity:

Natural Dyes can shift tone with exposure to substances with extreme pH (<pH 3 or >pH 9). We use this sensitivity to control color outcome by using an auxiliary to shift the dye. This means that some dyes may shift color when exposed to an acid or alkaline substance. pH sensitivity varies based on dye and fiber, but we find it is most prevalent with cellulose fibers (cotton, linen, hemp, jute, etc)

Generally, exposure to an acid can lighten a dye, while exposure to an alkaline may have no effect, or slightly darken or redden a color. We have found that stains created by an alkaline substance disappear after washing. Exposure to an acid can create a permanent stain. One way to mitigate this is to saturate an acid stain with cold water as soon as possible. Again, this information is mostly relevant to cellulose fibers. 

*the above does not apply to indigo dyed items*

Unexpected Outcomes:

Please be aware that over dyeing garments that have been worn previously may exhibit previously unseen stains after dyeing. An example is a tee shirt we found at a Goodwill, after being mordanted and dyed, had darker markings under the armpits, where aluminum based deodorant permeated the fiber.

Indigo is often best for covering stains. If any previously unseen stains present themselves, a member of our team will reach out and discuss dyeing a pattern over the solid dye to cover the stain (bundle dye, shibori, tie dye, etc) Also note that indigo does not create a perfectly even color, as it is dyed by hand, and tonal variations may be present in the fiber.

How Fiber Type Affects Outcome:

Natural dye only bonds to natural fibers (cotton, hemp, linen, wool, silk, etc), and not synthetic fibers (polyester, acetate, etc). Note that if your garment is constructed with a synthetic thread in the seams, the thread may not change color with the fabric. The dye has potential to change the finish of any hardware on your garment, including buttons, zippers, etc. In rare circumstances, hardware may crack, fall off or change color. If this happens, our team will call this out over email, and return all hardware with the garment.

Every fiber accepts dye in very different ways. Achieving a dark color may not be possible on all fabrics. Some dyes may have more tonal variation than others. 

Shrinkage:

Depending on how your item was cared for prior to dyeing, it is possible it could shrink slightly in the dye process. If your items have been previously washed warm or were sold as ‘pre-shrunk’ then you likely don’t have to worry! Cotton shrinks more than other fibers. 

Caring for your Garment:

Natural dyes should be cared for mindfully. Your naturally dyed item will keep color longest with the following:

• Wash cold on delicate (alone on the first wash)

• Use a gentle detergent (avoid Tide Original, oxiclean or bleach)

• Store out of light

Keep an Open Mind

Plant based dyes are like winemaking. The first bottle and the last bottle from the same vine and season may look, smell and taste different. We celebrate this, and natural dye is best for someone with an open mind and heart. We are committed to creating something beautiful and wearable that preserves the memories of your special day. We ask that customers exploring this service keep their expectations open and flexible.