Safe Fabric Dyes

Are the dyes in SoCo Studio cloth pads safe?

Yes—just like the clothes you’re already wearing. Our fabric dyes are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they’re rigorously tested and proven to be free from harmful levels of over 100 known toxic substances, including carcinogens and skin irritants.

We use the same level of fabric and dye safety found in baby clothes, underwear, and bedding. That white pair of cotton underwear in your drawer? Also dyed. (Yep, even “white” fabric is bleached and color-treated.)

In fact, your skin is in contact with dyed fabrics all day, every day—from your jeans to your bras to your sheets. The difference? Our pads are purposefully made for sensitive skin with breathable fabrics and dyes that don’t leach or irritate.

What you should be worried about?

Disposable pads and tampons that often contain:

• Fragrance chemicals (linked to hormone disruption)

• Dioxins from bleaching

• Petroleum-based plastics

• Adhesive glues touching your vulva

Now that’s actually gross.

What Are Numbered Dyes?

• Numbered dyes (like Red 40) are synthetic colorants created to achieve very specific, vibrant shades.

• They’re common in food coloring, makeup, and some clothing—especially cheaper fabrics.

• They’re known as azo dyes or coal tar dyes and are not naturally derived (unlike plant-based or fiber-reactive dyes used in higher-end textiles).

Why Don’t We Use Them in Body-Safe Fabrics?

High-quality fabrics (like those used for reusable pads, baby clothes, and underwear) typically don’t use numbered chemical dyes because:

• They can break down under heat or moisture, releasing unwanted compounds.

• They aren’t always skin-safe for long-term contact (they’re approved for occasional use in food/cosmetics, but sitting against your skin for 8+ hours is different).

• They’re cheaper but harsher, and not necessary when safe, fiber-reactive dyes do the job better.

What We Use Instead:

• Fiber-reactive dyes (like Procion MX) or low-impact dyes are chemically bonded to the fabric fibers.

• They don’t “sit” on the fabric—they become part of it, meaning they don’t rub off or leach into your skin.

• They’re OEKO-TEX certified (independently tested for 100+ toxic chemicals and irritants).

That “clean white” t-shirt? It’s still dyed. Fabric doesn’t naturally come in blinding white—it’s bleached, treated, and often dyed with optical brighteners (which are also technically chemicals). So the “ew chemicals” argument falls flat when literally every fabric you wear daily is dyed or treated in some way.