the lack of color uniformity and appearance in navy dress clothing is not only related to the shade evaluation of fabrics being procured, or the proposed 'tightening' of shade tolerances, but also stems from a variety of factors including: shade variations in horizontal and vertical matches; the effect of wear and/or cleaning; appearance under different lighting conditions; fiber composition of fabrics and dyeing methods; contractor furnished material versus government furnished material; fabric source, e.g., standard stock navy exchange and commercial outlets; availability of dye and government restrictions, and continual change in navy uniforms dictated by uniform decisionmakers. considering all the variables listed above, shade variations are controlled as well as possible by the current methodology. to lessen the degree of variation would entail such unpopular steps as returning to dry cleaned garments only, eliminating optional fabrics, enforcing the disposal of garments after a prescribed number of cleanings, and legislating laundering methods and soaps. (author)