Garment wash
Also known as: Garment washing
Industrial wash of the finished garment to create hand, look and fit.
Description
Garment wash refers in the textile industry to washing the fully made-up garment, that is after sewing and assembly. Unlike piece dye or yarn dye, the treatment happens on the finished product and creates an individual, slightly distorted vintage look with a soft hand. Common process variants: rinse wash (just removing sizing), enzyme wash (cellulases for softness), stone wash (pumice for abrasion) and silicone wash (silicone softening finish).
Typical process: 50-200 garments are washed together in large drum washers (300-500 kg capacity) at 40-60 degrees with enzymes, softeners or pumice. Then follow rinse cycles, softening and tumble drying. The goods show typical wash creases, minor distortion and a much softer, ready-to-wear hand.
Garment wash processes are essential for denim, chino and sweat collections. Downsides are high water and chemical consumption. Modern machines from Tonello or Jeanologia use ozone, e-flow (nano-bubble) and laser technology to drastically reduce water and energy use. ZDHC compliance is mandatory.
Properties
| Process | Wash on the finished garment |
|---|---|
| Result | Soft hand, vintage look, wash creases |
| Colour fastness | Colour lightening used intentionally |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Garment-Dye Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garment_dye
- Jeanologia Sustainable Denim jeanologia.com https://www.jeanologia.com/
