Fading Synthetic Fabric

[sesl]

So I found the perfect fabric that I'm going to need for my next project. The only problem is that I need to give it that "sun faded" look but the problem is that both fabrics I have are completely synthetic and the suggestions I found through the search like using diluted bleach or color remover seem like they're geared towards natural fibers.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[mdb]

It depends on what synthetic you have Some behave like natural fibres and so the dyes used can be removed much like they can be in natural fibres. Some even sun fade worse than natural fibres (acetate for instance) and some will require a totally different method (pigments to lighten- a spray of acrylic ink in white/off white/pale colour that works with what you have)

If you have nylon it will behave like wool/silk and so chlorine bleach will break it down. it does however react well to dyeing and dye removal but I haven't yet seen a dye removal method that doesn't use heat. Except chlorine bleach.

Rayon behaves a lot like cotton (but is more fragile when wet) so chlorine bleach will work the same way.

Polyester... Well you may wind up using a pigment based method as mentioned as the dye is not going to be easily removed at home. I used an airbrush and acrylic inks/paints thinned out to shade and tone my Shaak Ti costume. it worked really well. It's just not really suitable to throw in the washing machine Handwashing in cool water is fine though. And isopropyl alcohol will remove the ink/paint also as it is just misted on the outside. Using a sponge and working it through the fabric will give a more durable effect.

 

[sesl]

Yeah one of them is 100% polyester and the other fabric seems double sided with one being polyester and the other side being nylon but is listed as 100% nylon.

If you have nylon it will behave like wool/silk and so chlorine bleach will break it down. it does however react well to dyeing and dye removal but I haven't yet seen a dye removal method that doesn't use heat. Except chlorine bleach.

So for the nylon by "break it down" do you mean it will break down the fabric itself or just the color?

Polyester... Well you may wind up using a pigment based method as mentioned as the dye is not going to be easily removed at home. I used an airbrush and acrylic inks/paints thinned out to shade and tone my Shaak Ti costume. it worked really well. It's just not really suitable to throw in the washing machine Handwashing in cool water is fine though. And isopropyl alcohol will remove the ink/paint also as it is just misted on the outside. Using a sponge and working it through the fabric will give a more durable effect.

Hmmm Yeah I guess I'll try out all of the above (convenient I just got my first airbrush too )

Thanks for the help mdb!

 

[freakengine]

I second the paint method for weathering synthetics. I used a synthetic fabric for my Sharad Hett tunic and it turned out that paint and a little sandpaper did the trick.

 

[TaskenLander]

Necrobump!

I'm interested in fading/giving a somewhat aged look to a newly purchased OD Military nylon pouch. Just looks too "new" and bright. Any suggestions? I need it for a Con in January. Should I just leave it on a window ledge outside till then?

Thanks in advance,
Mike