LOW IMPACT DYES

Get Wild LLC is proud to offer onesies dyed with azo-free or low impact dyes. Our manufacturers onesies are processed with SKAL-approved bleaches (no toxic dioxins), dyes (no heavy metals), and finishing (no silicone or formaldehyde).

FYI - Conventional cotton is treated with a myriad of chemicals - silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, softeners, brighteners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde - to name just a few. Ouch!

What's an azo dye?

Azo compounds refer to synthetic inorganic chemical compounds. Aromatic azo compounds are usually stable and have vivid colours such as red, orange, and yellow. Therefore, they are used as dyes, also termed azo dyes.

The textile industry has long used these dyes as a means of coloring garments (from what we dress our newborns in to your new shirt or trousers).

What's the risk?

In short, some azo-based dyes (Azo dye group III A1 and A2) shed carcinogenic aryl amines as the garments are worn (they contain metallic elements) creating health risks, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Azo-dyed garments may also contain toxic chemicals such as chlorine bleach.

For example, your vibrant yellow sweater may contain an azo dye with 4-hydro-xyphenylazobenzene, or 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (and you didn't have to pay extra!).

Given that a baby's skin has a natural sensitivity and an undeveloped derma, the health risk of exposure to aromatic azo dyes is very high. The key benefit of azo-free dyes is the removal of the metallic component, which can create a textile-induced chemical sensitivity, or worse.

As a precaution, Skal-certification requires the following dyes not be used in garments: disperse blue 1, disperse blue 35, disperse blue 106, disperse blue 124, disperse yellow 3, disperse orange 3, disperse orange 37/76 and disperse red 1.