When clients receive their uniforms, they expect consistency – across sizes, styles, and especially colour. But few realise just how much work goes into making sure every garment is dyed to exactly the right shade. That precision starts not on the production floor, but in a laboratory, with something called a lab dip.
At Arrow Uniforms, we take this step seriously, because getting colour right isn’t optional. It’s essential.
What Is a Lab Dip
A lab dip is a small sample of fabric that’s been dyed in a lab to test and demonstrate a colour match before full-scale fabric production begins. It's the very first checkpoint in ensuring a uniform meets brand and quality expectations.
The process begins with a colour reference – often an existing garment or a Pantone (PMS) code. The dye house then creates several versions of the formula to find the closest match. Each sample is dyed, dried, labelled, and cut into a small swatch – then sent to us for review.
Precision Over Assumption
These swatches aren’t approved lightly. Internally, we compare them to existing garments or other pieces in a range. In many cases, the client is also involved, particularly for branded ranges. Everyone from production to account management weighs in – because what looks right under one light may look very different under another.
Once a lab dip is approved, that exact dye formula becomes the reference point for bulk production and any future reorders. That’s what allows us to maintain consistency over time – even as fabric runs and dye batches evolve.
It Doesn’t Stop There
Before production begins, a length of the final dyed fabric is sent to us again. We review this against the approved lab dip – another checkpoint before even a single garment is sewn.
If it doesn’t match? We don’t move forward.
Sometimes fabric can be redyed or adjusted. In other cases, the dye lot must be redone entirely – starting from the greige (raw) yarn stage. It’s not ideal, and yes, it can cause delays. But what’s worse than waiting? Delivering uniforms that don’t match.
Why This Matters
Uniforms are a visual extension of a brand. A mismatch in colour – even by a few shades – can undermine the professionalism and cohesion that clients rely on. Whether it’s a nationwide retail rollout or a healthcare provider ordering monthly top-ups, colour continuity is not negotiable.
Lab dips are our frontline defence against inconsistency. They may seem small, but their impact is anything but.
Our Commitment to Quality
At Arrow, we’ve built our processes around the belief that good enough isn’t good enough. We’ve turned away fabric shipments. We’ve started from scratch when needed. And we’ve invested in multi-stage approvals to protect the integrity of every uniform we deliver.
Because every colour choice is a brand statement – and we’re here to make sure it’s the right one.