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Dye before you buy: how to give tired-looking silk garments a second life

Stubborn stains had relegated Lucianne Tonti’s favourite silk clothes to the back of the closet. With the help of a professional dyeing service, she gives them a jet-black refresh

But it turns out, despite how much I talk and write about responsible consumption, I’m not immune to that internal nudge telling me to buy a new dress for a friend’s wedding or a coat that’s appropriate for Sydney’s rain. When I examined my wardrobe, I realised I’d accumulated several silk shirts and tops in pale colours that I wasn’t wearing often (in part because I’m clumsy and love pasta and red wine). The dress was more than 10 years old so I wasn’t concerned about something going wrong but the Cullachange team wanted to be sure I was aware of the risks – silk can become brittle and fragile as it ages and the dyeing process is not always gentle.

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