Evaluation of performance characteristics of hemp fabrics when home-dyed with fiber reactive dyes

With hemp and hemp-blend fabrics becoming more readily available to the home dyer and sewer, the performance characteristics of these fabrics becomes more important. This study evaluated selected performance characteristics on one all-hemp fabric and two hemp blends dyed in three colors in each of four fiber reactive dyes. The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and The American Society for Testing and Materials standardized testing methods were used to evaluate colorfastness to laundry and colorfastness to light. Means, standard deviations, and Tukeys Honestly Significant Difference Test were used to analyze the data. One hypothesis out of seven for colorfastness to laundering was rejected. There was a significant difference in color. One hypothesis out of seven for colorfastness to light was rejected. There was a significant difference in fabric. These differences are discussed. Individual L, a, b readings are also discussed for each fabric in each dye and color.