In this video, the YouTube channel "Dirty Civilian" tested different uniforms under night vision/near infrared to see if there is any difference between the genuine issue uniforms and cheap knockoffs (mostly from China). They also tested whether washing using a detergent with brighteners makes a difference, and the difference between solid colors versus camo patterns.
Basically, there was no difference between the genuine uniforms and the knock-offs when viewed through night vision. Also, using a detergent with a brightener made no difference, nor did it matter if the uniforms had gone through many washes. There was some advantage to certain camo patterns over solid colors simply because the patterns can still break up the shape.
What they discovered, however, is that different fabrics vary in how they reflect in the infrared. The standard uniform fabrics appear equally dim in the near infrared as in daylight, but polyester fabrics can show up as very bright under an infrared light.
Also, I think that the reason that many people believed that the detergents with whiteners are bad to use in connection to night vision is because they are mixing up infrared with ultraviolet. Deer and some other animals can see slightly into the ultraviolet spectrum, and clothes washed with brighteners will show up much more readily in ultraviolet, especially in dim light. So hunters know to avoid washing their hunting camo in detergents with whiteners. (See also this article with tips on washing and drying your hunting clothes). But, as noted above, it apparently makes no difference in the infrared spectrum.
VIDEO: "Are Knockoff Combat Uniforms Just as Good? | Night Vision Clothing"
Dirty Civilian (25 min.)
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