[Dcbois]

I'm getting a new HCK single std in blue. Is there any special instructions with regard to color? I know I'm going to have to do some serious shrinking, but I also want to preserve the color. Anyone with HCK experience?

Thanks!

[theNuge]

I think there's a thread in the Reviews subforum that addresses the shrinking of an HCK but I don't know anything about any specific care regarding the color. You might have to soak it in vinegar to lock in the color but don't quote me on that since you don't have to do that with all colored gis.

[vu]

Honestly...contact Howard Liu himself...you can find his e-mail on howardliu.com or even on here, you can try to PM him...

I remember when I ordered a kimono from him a while back and he called me to confirm the order and sizing...he also gave pretty explicit details on how to care for it to help it last longest...it wasn't blue, so I can't help you there.

Best of luck, though...

[jerbone]

Yup, just email him. I have the exact same gi and love it. I have not had a problem with shrinking but it did fade VERY FAST. Oh well I am not that concerned with the color, but I should of used type of color lock(hell no vinegar!)

[Cydewynder20]

DO NOT put anything else in the wash with it the first few times. Even with the vinegar treatment, mine bled blue dye all over the place.

It might sound kind of funny, but I actually like the color it fades to. Other blue gis have a darker, royal blue kind of color, but my HCK is almost more of a dark sky blue.

Mine shrunk just a bit with regular hang drying, and i like the fit. HCK's need to be broken in, though......so I would recommend training in it a few times before you get overly concerned with trying to shrink it.

[Foolkiller]

Get some Retayne dyelock formula. http://www.dharmatrading.com/products/retayne/