The textile industry has experienced a long history of shading irregularities.  For a long time these issues were mostly evident on colored and patterned textiles.  Recently however, a problem has developed for linen companies with the largest consumed color – White.  Dying textiles is not complicated, but consistency is.  So I thought we’d bring on a supplier whose motif is “The Leading Supplier of Consistent Quality Textiles” for a Q and A session on the topic 50 Shades of White (there are actually more than that, but doesn’t have the same ring to it).

Samantha “Sam” Hickernell is the VP of Sales and Marketing for BLC Textiles.  She has spent her entire career in the industry and has worked with hundreds of customers on textile related solutions.

Q. Jeff

Sam, thanks for taking the time to join us to discuss the white shading issues in the marketplace today.  Having been to manufacturing facilities around the world, can you speak generally about the color white and how it’s produced?

A. Sam

Sure and it’s great that you referred to White as a color as it is no different than other colors as far as dyeing and finishing goes.  The color White is dyed as natural polyester and has a yellow/brown natural color.  Therefore it needs to be dyed similar to other colors.  In order to get the deepest, most consistent acceptance of the dye you need the right yarns.  Most importantly, you need to be able to create an environment where the product is exposed to high heat, consistent pressure, and the correct amount of time in the dyeing process. Generally this would be higher than any heat or pressure the product may be exposed to at a laundry facility.  These factors are key components to dyeing the color white.

Q. Jeff

That was a perfect overview.  When meeting with laundries who service all industries across the country, what do you think are the primary factors causing the shading problems seen at most plants?

A. Sam

As stated above, white is a color and because we impart dye into the product to create the color we can also remove dye over time through regular use.  Repeated exposure to chemicals in the wash process, chemicals at the end users facilities and high heat in the dryers and ironers will over time degrade the appearance of white.  Additionally, there will be differences in color however slight, between new and say a napkin produced 100 times.  One of the key issues operators face is polyester bodies exists long after the color begins to leave the product.  Many times shading can be a result of product hanging around too long.  As our Laundrypro likes to point out “polyester doesn’t tell you it’s time to throw it out like cotton did”.  A good program of culling out product that has lived its usable life and inputting new product regularly will help minimize color shading.

Q. Jeff

You mentioned chemical abuse as a factor, can you speak specifically about how and why this happens.  Also, are there any chemical companies that you think stand out and really work to minimize their products’ effects on a rental company’s goods?

A. Sam

I don’t want to give the impression that the chemical companies are abusing products however the regular exposure to chemicals does play a role in the life of the product.

We are not operators and don’t have the laundry “chops” if you will to endorse or recommend a particular chemical company.  I have found a great representative of any company can be a terrific partner in the success of a rental operation.  A true partner can easily collaborate with the manufacturers and work within guidelines to make certain the expectations can be met and even exceeded for their respective customer. We have worked with all of the major players in the chemical industry that serve our customers. I have found all of them to be professional, interested and ultimately have the same goal as the operator and us, that is consistent quality through the plant for the life of the product.

Q. Jeff

I understand not wanting to “recommend” any particular company [well, sort of].  Perhaps some chemical suppliers will decide to provide their own insights as the issue gets discussed.  What are some tips or questions you’d recommend companies ask their textile distributors to help them eliminate this problem?

A. Sam

The Operator should definitely try to understand how products are made and what the suppliers Quality Control processes are.  In addition, if there were to be a problem what is their method for solution of problems.  A qualified supplier will have the answers to these questions readily available and be willing to share why they feel their products meet the specific needs of the rental company. Additionally, wherever feasible a visit to the factory to see the process can be extremely valuable.  In implementing a new program it probably wouldn’t hurt to get the chemical manufacturers and the napery manufacturers together so they have a familiarity with one another and at the very least get wash and care recommendations.  Remember, we cannot eliminate color loss, the trick is to minimize it, and put it off as long as possible to get the maximum life out of the products that you are buying.  When we can collaborate with an operator and a chemical company to reduce fading and shading and take the product out further into its life; in terms of turns, we have done our job. Lastly, operators should purchase consistently in the table linen category.  When operators start buying from multiple suppliers it greatly impacts their shading opportunity in their plant.  Consistent purchasing helps with consistent quality.

Q. Jeff

What does your company do to make sure that the same white products ordered in January are the same shade as the product ordered 6 months earlier?

A. Sam

Our Quality Control is very detailed and starts with the yarn.  We have chosen to produce “Q” out of all Murata Jet Spun Yarns.  We feel that having the same type of yarns in both directions is a huge asset in reducing fading and shading.  Color is the human perception of reflected light.  When you have two yarns you will in fact have two perceptions of light.  There really is no way around that.  In time, as the product is used, this reflection of light can become dramatically different and cause whites to take on an beige or gray appearance in some products.  Our product is dyed and treated to get the maximum penetration of both dyes and soil releases under the careful auspices of our Chemist in Cambodia at our factory. He developed our proprietary time temperature model to insure perfection every time.  Our lab at the factory can and does analyze a percentage of the product under a variety of light sources for comparison and standard control.  As the product goes through the plant it is checked in every part of cut/sew.   In that process, every employee is an enabled Quality control inspector and has full authority to reject anything that does not meet our standard.

We are unique in the sense that we do not use automatic sewing and every piece of every product is hand inspected before it leaves the factory.  Lastly, once the product arrives in the US there are random wash tests done to insure consistency of all facets of the product to include dyeing.  Our belief is the process is the difference and we live and breathe by that motto.

Q. Jeff

You’ve offered up some great insight on the topic.  We really appreciate it!  If any of our customers are experiencing issues on the textiles they are purchasing and wanted to get some BLC samples, what is the best way to get in touch with your team to learn more?

A. Sam

They can contact their local representative at 844.500.7900, or feel free to contact me shickernell@blctextiles.com or Ben Pincus bpincus@blctextiles.com for more information, product samples or a personal visit for further review.  We look forward to serving the industry – thank you for this opportunity.

Jeff – Thanks Sam. We’ll look forward to seeing you and your team at CSC & the Clean Show.

Of course the new Universal Pictures movie “50 Shades of Grey” arrives in theaters next month.  I hadn’t planned to see it but after my wife played this song for me – I’m in.