Technology of Denim Production: Part VI- Washing Techniques of Denim

Denim has been used as clothing material for centuries due to its high durability. But today's fashion arena favors denim jeans for their attractive shades, designs, styles, and various wash appeals, rather than just for their robustness. In the past, denim jeans were worn in a raw, rigid, and starch-finished form. However, today's fashion demands various washing treatments, including desizing, enzymatic washing with or without stones, decolorization, neutralization, brightening, and finishing.

Normally, denim washing is carried out on sewn garments. Denim jeans undergo different washing techniques, such as rinse wash, bleach, enzyme wash, acid wash, stonewash, moon wash, sand wash, sun wash, over-dyed/tinted look, whiskering, damaged, and used look. In denim washing, enzymes play a crucial role in achieving a clean, smooth, fuzz-free fabric surface with a reduced tendency for pill formation and improved fabric handle.

Traditionally, indigo denim fabric is deep blue in shade. Denim finishes may be of two types: raw denim and pre-washed denim. In raw denim, the denim is not washed after weaving.

Raw denim jeans exhibit the natural shade of indigo, which fades during wear and subsequent washes at home. However, in some cases, raw denim is considered impractical as it may rub off on other materials it comes into contact with. The unfixed dye on the fabric's surface may cause stains on other fabrics.

Read Full Article