Abstract: A hard water-tolerant, storage stable dye solution which comprisesA. about 10 to 25 percent of a dye of the formula ##SPC1##wherein M is a solubilizing cation and R is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)OH or --CH.sub.2 CH(C.sub.2 H.sub.5)OH,b. about 5 to 25 percent of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone,C. about 0.02 to 0.3 part of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid anion per part of said dye,D. lithium and/or akanolammonium cations in an amount sufficient to provide a pH of about 6.5 to 12, andE. at least about 50 percent water.