Dylon Dyes ‘Re-Dye Don’t Re-Buy’: How to Upcycle Your Loungewear

DYLON Dyes has worked with stylist, fashion entrepreneur and thrifter Kavita Donkersley, to create its first-ever ‘Re-Dye Don’t Re-Buy’ capsule collection with a difference.

With 1 in 3 (34 per cent) people in the UK now consciously buying fewer clothes, with the environmental impact being one of their key reasons, here is how to upcycle items in your wardrobe to create a loungewear look:

Sweatshirt + Joggers (Tracksuit)

Materials needed:

• An old tracksuit (sweatshirt and joggers)
• DYLON Machine Dye Pod in Plum Red or any colour of your choice
• Iron, fabric glue or a glue gun
• Felt lettering

Instructions:

1. Turn the damp, clean joggers and sweatshirt inside out and place them in the washing machine.

2. Pop the unwrapped and opened Red Plum DYLON Machine Dye Pod directly on top of the garments. Set the machine to a full cotton 40° C cycle. Once this is complete, leave the items in the machine and run another cycle with detergent. The dye is suitable for garments made of cotton, linen and viscose. Mixes with synthetics will dye to lighter shades and pure synthetics will not dye.

3. Once both garments have been dyed and removed from the machine, run an empty cycle using detergent to clean your machine. Remove the empty pod from the machine.

4. Once the joggers and sweatshirt are ready, leave them to dry away from direct sunlight.

Always read Dylon Machine Dyes Pod’s pack for instructions and fabric requirements before use.

5. If the patches are iron-ons, iron them on the front of the sweatshirt and make any phrase you want. If your letters aren’t adhesives, use fabric glue or a glue gun to stick them on. We’ve also added some lettering to the back side of the joggers for a fun touch. You can even personalise the tracksuit by putting your initials on it. This could also be a great festive gift for someone special.

When washing the tracksuit, ensure that it’s washed on its own or with similar colours for the first 2-3 times to avoid any residues of the dye bleeding on other clothes

Tie Dyed Socks

Materials needed:

1. 1. • A pair of clean, white socks
      • DYLON Dyes Hand Dye in Plum Red or any colour of your choice
      • 250g of ordinary salt
      • Rubber bands
      • Rubber gloves
      • Apron
      • 500ml of warm water (40 degrees celsius)
      • Six litres of warm water (40 degrees celsius)

Instructions:

Note: Images are for visual purposes only

1. Weigh the socks and wash them thoroughly. Squeeze out any excess water to leave it damp.

2. Prepare two bowls of warm water (40C), one with 500ml and one with 6 litres

3. Wearing rubber gloves, add the full pack of dye in the 500ml of warm water in a bowl.

4. In the six litre bowl, add 250g of salt and stir it well. Then, add the contents from the 500ml bowl and stir well again. Please refer to the pack for more detailed instructions.

5. Bind sections of the socks tightly with rubber bands in a random manner.

6. Dip the socks into the dye mixture. Stir constantly for 15 minutes, then stir regularly for 45 minutes. Leave it to sit for a minimum of one hour to allow the dye to seep into the fabric.

7. Without untying fabric, rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Then untie and wash in warm water.

8. Leave the socks to dry and make sure they are away from direct sunlight. When washing the socks, ensure that it’s washed on its own or with similar colours for the first 2-3 times to avoid any residues of the dye bleeding on other clothes.