FAQs for our Sewn + Dyed Clothing

What kind of dyes do you use?

If you’ve been following us for any amount of time, you’re probably super educated by now about our love for low impact, fiber reactive dyes! Jess has been using these incredible dyes, from the same producers in California, for almost 20 years now, and the WAXON staff are devotees as well. The color-fastness, fade resistance, washability, and versatility of these dyes has us satisfied beyond compare. We have found that you just can’t get the same consistency and reliability with “natural” (i.e. plant) dyes… and the only fixative (like a mordant) that you need is soda ash, or sodium carbonate. Our whole process is low on the toxicity scale and is safe for the dyers as well as the wearers!

Is your fabric organic?

Sometimes it is— we only dye on plant fibers, so all our fabrics are natural, no synthetics like polyester or nylon. Sometimes we can source organic fabrics or fabrics made with some organically grown plant fibers, but we value locally sourced fabrics as well. At WAXON we strive to keep our supply chain as close to Western NC as possible, and to make the best decisions we can for the earth and for your wallets. It’s all a balance!

Is this “tie dye”? It doesn’t look like tie dye…

Our sewn & dyed garments are all created with a method called Low Water Immersion. Using less than a gallon of water per piece (sometimes less, for smaller items!), we love LWI for the organic patterning that happens completely naturally based on how the dye molecules move through the fabric when immersed in a very small amount of water and left to cure for 24 hours. We can’t plan or control the patterning— every piece gets its own “fingerprint” just because of how the color crawls slowly across the piece in the dye bath! Different fabrics will take the dye a little differently, and color strength varies from bath to bath. Expect to see lighter and darker areas in crystalline patterns across the fabric. They’re truly beautiful!

Can you just make mine a solid color?

We made the decision a few years ago to completely stop trying to create solid colors, and to stop promising them to clients. Mostly because we are so smitten with LWI dyeing, but also because the amount of water and agitation (constant stirring) it takes to render a piece completely solidly dyed is not what we want to commit to in our dye practice. That’s best left to the larger chemical plants! Hand dyed fabric has lighter and darker areas naturally, based on how the pigments moved across the fibers, not to mention the specific conditions when each fiber was grown— plant fibers vary from crop to crop.

I can’t tolerate polyester/nylon seams. Can I wear your pieces?

Yes! We are so proud to be creating our clothing using only cotton thread. We use home and industrial sewing machines to seam every garment with cotton, so that it will all dye to match. This is a huge benefit for folks with allergies or sensitivities to synthetic threads.

How do I know if something will fit me?

We love working with natural fabrics that have a bit of stretch added in, which really helps increase the chances that one particular size will fit a variety of bodies! Whenever possible we include a size chart in our listings, and try to show the garments modeled on lots of different body shapes, sizes, etc. When in doubt, feel free to get in touch. We can measure things for you, you can tell us your measurements, and we can try to find the size that will work for you. If you’re in the Asheville area, come try things on!

Do you give refunds?

Because all garments are handmade to order, we cannot offer refunds.
We are so thankful for your participation in shifting the expectations of fast fashion to one of mindful consumption. Ordering from small artisan makers where sustainability is more important than having Amazon-like return policies is hugely important to our world, and we thank you for being a part of the sustainable fashion revolution. This made-to-order business model and no refunds policy is essential to our collective goals of sustainability.

What about exchanges?

If you’re not thrilled with your custom piece, there are certain things we can do to help you love your garment more:

-overdyeing: change the color

-hemming: shorten the length

Contact us within 7 days of delivery to discuss sending it back to us for one of these changes. Garments must be unworn (except for trying it on) and unwashed. You are responsible for shipping costs. We are obviously limited to overdyeing only colors that are possible to achieve with the starting color that your garment was dyed the first time. I.e., if you chose blue the first time, we can’t dye your piece yellow or orange, but we could turn it teal, or purple. Think of the color wheel from Art class! Because we can’t add width or length to a completed garment, we can only offer to take length away from the sleeves or hem if it’s too long. Remember, custom clothing is not the same as tailored clothing! Make sure you order based on your actual measurements.

Will my piece shrink or bleed?

A big part of what we do is the washing and drying— by the time it gets to you, your garment has been washed at least twice in the washing machine, including one full cycle on hot! It’s how we ensure that the dyes are set and that any extra pigments have been thoroughly washed away. You can rest assured that no additional shrinkage or bleeding will happen once your piece is being washed at home. Feel free to launder as you do all other colored clothing.

What is your turnaround time like?

It takes us time to produce a made-to-order garment and prepare it for shipping! Because we make all of the garments from scratch, from cutting the fabric, sewing, dyeing, washing & drying, and packing, we have to work in a methodical way to make sure every piece is getting the attention it deserves. We might begin your piece the day you order it, but sometimes it takes us several days to be able to work it in! Please allow up to 3 weeks for us to create and ship your order.

Does your clothing have “raw edges”?

Absolutely not. With the exception of a few samples made early on in between shipments of cotton thread, we hem every piece with a serged edge. Raw edged garments are not a benefit— knit edges will roll up with washing, the fabrics have a much higher chance of unraveling, interior seams aren’t stabilized at their end points, and the structure of the garment is compromised (will gap and stretch) due to the nature of knitted fabric. WAXON’s apparel is professionally finished while still maintaining a natural, simple look that we love.