Colour Fastness Testing

Find out whether colours will bleed, fade or rub off before your garments, home textiles or leather goods reach a customer.

4.9/5Rated by 28 clients

How Colour Fastness Testing works

1Assessment of requirement
2Sample collection
3Right lab assigned
4Testing
5Test report

Each step explained

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Overview of Colour Fastness Testing

Tested by: NABL-accredited partner lab
Regulation: ISO 105 series
Typical turnaround: 3–5 working days
Sample needed: 1 m fabric or 2 pieces

Colour problems are the most common reason textiles are returned. Colour fastness tests under the ISO 105 series reproduce what happens in use: washing (ISO 105-C06), rubbing dry and wet (ISO 105-X12), daylight and artificial light (ISO 105-B02), perspiration (ISO 105-E04) and water (ISO 105-E01). Each result is graded from 1 to 5 against grey scales for change in colour and staining of adjacent fabrics.

Dark shades, reactive and direct dyes, prints and denim are most at risk. Testing at the lab-dip and bulk stages lets dyers adjust recipes and after-treatments before a full order is made. The same methods apply to leather, carpets and home furnishings.

What we do for you

Lab and parameter list chosen for your purpose: licence, export, buyer or internal QC
Sampling guidance, and pickup or on-site sampling where needed
One contact who follows up with the lab until the report is issued
Report explained in plain language, with next steps if a result fails

What to send

The lab confirms the exact quantity and packing for your product when we book the test.

Sample

Quantity: 1 m fabric or 2 pieces
Sealed and labelled with the product name, batch number and date
Packed securely so that it is not damaged in transit

Details to share

Product name, material or grade and intended use
Drawings or specifications, where relevant
The standard or buyer specification to test against
Markets where the product will be sold

How we handle Colour Fastness Testing

1
Assessment of requirement
We confirm the standard, the list of tests and how many samples your product needs.
2
Sample collection
We collect the samples from your factory or warehouse, or tell you exactly where to send them.
3
Right lab assigned
We choose an accredited lab (NABL, BIS-recognised or ILAC) that covers your standard and can start soonest.
4
Testing
The lab tests your samples against the standard. We follow up and tell you at once if a test fails.
5
Test report
You receive the signed test report, ready to use for BIS, WPC, CE or your buyer.

What the lab tests

Parameter	Why it is checked
Washing (ISO 105-C06)	Colour change and staining in home laundering
Rubbing, dry and wet (ISO 105-X12)	Colour transfer by friction
Light (ISO 105-B02)	Fading in daylight
Perspiration (ISO 105-E04)	Acid and alkaline sweat
Water and sea water	Bleeding when wet
Dry cleaning and hot pressing	For garments with those care labels

The final list depends on your product, its standard and the purpose of testing. We confirm it with you before the sample goes to the lab.

Frequently asked questions

What grade is a pass?

Grades run from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Most brands require 3–4 or better depending on the test and shade; your buyer’s manual sets the exact pass levels.

Which standard is the product tested against?

The Indian Standard, international standard or buyer specification that applies to your product and market. We confirm it with you before testing, and the report states the method used for each parameter.

Who carries out the testing?

Instacertify’s partner laboratories, accredited by NABL to ISO/IEC 17025 for the parameters on your report. We choose the lab, arrange the sample, follow up until the report is issued and explain the results to you.

What our clients say

“Instacertify helped us get BIS CRS certification for our entire product range within just 6 weeks. Their team handled everything from documentation to lab coordination. Highly professional service.”

Akash GuptaBIS CRS · Electronics brand

“They handled complete certification for us, from ISO 9001 to BIS for PVC cables and plugs. Thorough, professional and always available — they knew what needed to be done and when.”

Shivank VishnoiISO 9001 & BIS · Cables

“Getting TEC approvals for our access-control products seemed confusing and complex, but Instacertify made it simple.”

Jiten ShahTEC approval · Access control

Not sure which certification you need?

Send us the product name and the countries you sell in. A specialist replies with the standards that apply, the documents to prepare, the lab cost and the timeline. The assessment is free.

The list of approvals comes to you in writing
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