If you are new to the textile industry, it is crucial to understand RFD fabric. Many beginners or buyers may come across this term without fully understanding its significance. For people involved in fabric sourcing, dyeing, printing, or garment production , ready-for-dyeing fabric is crucial for them to carry out their processes effectively.

RFD is a process done on fabrics or yarn. The fabrics are pre-treated and processed to make them completely ready for dyeing or printing. Before reaching the RFD stage, the fabric is in its gray form , meaning it is raw fabric and has not yet undergone any pretreatment. 

To convert greige fabric into a ready-to-dye fabric , it must go through several processes, including desizing, washing, scouring, bleaching, and mercerization . (*Read at the end of the articles to understand each step of the ready-to-dye process.) This preparation makes the fabric clean and highly absorbent of dyes.

Note for natural dyers: RFD fabric allows natural dyes to adhere properly to the fibers. When working with natural dyes, it is essential to understand that RFD (ready-for-dyeing) does not imply that the fabric is pre-mordanted . 

In a world dominated by synthetic fabrics, finding truly natural fabrics that are also RFD can be a challenge. It has become such a habit to get any textile dyed that in the vast majority of the places where you will go to buy natural white fabrics, they will all be dyed synthetically in white or dyed in off-white/beige.

At Fiber Bio , we supply natural and RFD fabrics online made from organic cotton , linen , silk , and wool that are free from harsh or harmful chemicals. We are dedicated to producing and selling only RFD fabrics and products. Not a single article on our website had been dyed.

Along with fabric, we have sustainable products like scarves , garments , and accessories , which are safe for you and also better for the environment. All our organic cotton fabrics are GOTS-certified , and linen fabrics are OEKO-TEX-certified . We are dedicated to supplying high-quality natural fabrics and products to textile enthusiasts, artisans, designers, natural dyers, printers, and sustainable brands to achieve the best results. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at contact@fibrebio.com

Desizing removes sizing agents, such as starch or resins, used during the process of weaving. This step improves the fabric’s ability to absorb water and dye properly.

Washing cleans the surface of the fabric by removing loose dirt, dust, and water-soluble impurities.

The equalizing step balances any irregularities that might have occurred during weaving or finishing. It includes properties such as moisture content, tension, or thickness.

Scouring is a deep cleaning process that removes natural waxes, oils, and other impurities embedded in the fibers. It leads to increased fabric absorbency and softness.

Bleaching is an optional step , meaning not all natural fibers require it. However, it removes the fabric’s natural color, odor, and other impurities from the gray fabrics.

Mercerization is also an optional step. It is a textile finishing process that enhances dye uptake and improves tear strength. Most commonly, this step is used in the production of cotton.

At Fiber Bio, bleaching and mercerization are not carried out for our organic cotton and wool fabrics and products. In the case of silk and wool, gentle bleaching is carried out only if required to achieve the desired purity and finish, always with care for the fabric and the environment.