Repair Damaged Clothing and Accessories

Faded Black Clothing

For washable garments: The only recourse is to dye them. You can try this at home, but it's risky: There's a strong chance the dye will not cover the original color uniformly, says Jane Rising, manager of training at the International Fabricare Institute. Also, only washable natural fibers, such as cotton and linen, are receptive to dyes (which means the fabric may take the color, but any nylon thread will not). What's more, dyes tend to rub off on undergarments and leave the inside of the washing machine tinted, which can ruin your next load―make sure to run a short cycle afterward with old towels to absorb the dye. You could get a dry cleaner to do the dyeing, but it is expensive (from $100 to $500). "It requires time and work to get the job done right," says Joseph Hallak Jr., owner of Hallak Cleaners and president of the National Cleaners Association. And even then, he cautions, the success rate is less than 75 percent.
 
For dry-clean-only garments: Take them to a dry cleaner to have them dyed professionally, particularly if the clothing is costly, like a gown. But it's going to be pricey, and success is iffy.
 
Odds of revival: Very low.