Types of WashinginDenims

PREPARED BY – SUNNY MALHOTRA

PROCESS

Denim Washes & Finishing Processes

• Washed / processed jeans can go through many processes to achieverealistic fading effect or other special wash effects. Here are some of theTechniques used to create our jeans ensuring each pair is unique• In this process sprinkler guns, machines, and different types of stones

are used :

HISTORY

• The concept of washing the Denim jeans was started by Jack Spencer for the brand Lee.

• Stone-wash was first started by Francois Giraud.• The concept of sandblasting was started in 1988 by a number of

branded companies in Italy.

1. ABRASIONProcess of making garments look worn and aged by scraping or rubbingthe surface of the fabric causing abrasion. Pumice stones are mostfrequently used by industrial laundries.

2. ACID WASH(Marble/ Moon Wash/ Snow Wash)- This finish gives indigo jeans sharpcontrasts. The process is achieved by soaking pumice stones in chlorineand letting these stones create contrast. The process was created in Italyand patented in 1986.

3. ATARIJapanese term describing the selective fading of the ridges of creases.The most common areas for ‘Atari’ are along side seams, on the frontand back of the knees, the upper thigh, along the hem, on belt loopsand along pocket seams.

4. ENZYME WASHConsidered a more efficient and environmentally sound way to stonewash jeans. Rather than using pumice stones, organic enzymes(proteins) are used that eat away at the indigo. Jeans finished usingenzymes tend to be stronger than those broken down by traditionalstone washing, as the fabric is not subjected to the same level of abuse.

5. RIVER WASHINGA washing process using a combination of pumice stones and celluloseenzymes to give denim a vintage, worn hand. The washer is loaded onlywith stones and fabric for the first cycle. Enzymes are introduced for thesecond stage in combination with the stones and they are tumbled untila naturally aged look is produced.

6. SANDBLASTINGA laundry process performed before washing in which jeans are shotwith guns of sand in order to abrade them and cause a wornappearance. While originally done by hand this process is a nowautomated at most large laundry house.

7. STONEWASHINGA process that physically removes colour and adds contrast. A 20 yardroll of fabric, generally 62 inches in width, is put into a 250-poundwashing machine along with pumice stones. The fabric and stones arerotated together for a set period of time. The washing time dictates thefinal colour of the fabric- the longer the denim and stones are rotatedthe lighter the colour becomes and more contrast is achieved. Thedenim is then rinsed, softened and tumble dried.

8. WHISKERINGA fading of the ridges increases in the crotch area and back of the knees,which gives the appearance of aged denim. It can also be inverse- darkcreased in faded denim.

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