What are the disadvantages of Garments Dyeing?

Not suited to all fabrics:

• On densely woven lightweight fabrics there is a high risk of seam pucker if cotton sewing threads are used of relatively high grist to achieve adequate seam strength. 100% cotton fabrics are low in elongation and therefore the fabric yarns are displaced around the needle and thread increasing the degree of seam pucker.
• On lightweight fabrics that require fine ticket sizes of thread, seam strength can be compromised.
• Fabrics with high stretch properties, such as those containing Lycra can give problems with seam extension due to the low elongation properties of 100% cotton sewing threads.

Not always providing the desired final appearance:

• Garments that follow the garments dye route have a "casual / washed down" appearance. Where a pristine finished look is required the garments dye route is not recommended.
• When manufacturing intimate apparel, the desired softness of the seam that is provided by textured sewing threads (i.e. Coats Seam soft) is not achievable with 100% cotton sewing threads.
  

Potentially high damage and repairs rate:

1. Garments dyeing are a relatively harsh process that can result in damage to the garments.

2. When making garments in the "greige" state needle and / or feed dog damage is not always evident. The garment dye process can expose these small levels of damage resulting in a high level of seconds

High risk of inappropriate sewing thread use:

1. It is imperative when embarking on a garment dye program that ALL of the previously used sewing threads are cleared from the sewing machines and the thread storage areas, and that ALL sewing threads are segregated and clearly marked.

2. Past experience has shown that on numerous occasions, failure to remove the residual thread from ALL lockstitch, stitch type bobbins on the sewing line (including the bobbins in the machine drawers etc.), has resulted in large quantities of garments being produced which are not saleable or repairable due to even the slightest contamination of the seams.

No guarantees of absolute compatibility even in apparently ideal situations-fabric shrinkage:

Fabric shrinkage is often higher than the minimal amount of shrinkage in the sewing threads. This can result in a high degree of seam pucker. This seam pucker is often perceived as excessive thread shrinkage

Fabric swelling:

The fabric shrinkage levels (x and y) may well be low in percentage terms but in the third (z) dimension, the fabrics construction yarns may volumes significantly resulting in there being insufficient sewing thread in the seam causing poor seam extensibility and seam pucker in the woven fabric.