Fabric Finishing Terms for Denim and other Fabrics, with images, FIDM, Apparel Process II, 2

Distressed Wash : This finish is a wash given, usually to denim, that involves the partial removal, through wash and friction, of the superficial layer of indigo. The results are the look of jeans that have been through distressing times. 

Distressed Wash : This finish is a wash given, usually to denim, that involves the partial removal, through wash and friction, of the superficial layer of indigo. The results are the look of jeans that have been through distressing times. 

Sand Blasting: Sand blasting is done by machine. The sand blasting machine is designed to process the denim effect by spraying high pressure air and sand. Above is an image of jeans that have been sandblasted.

Garment Dye: Garment dying is the dyeing of complete garments. Garments that are garment dyed are usually non-tailored garments, such as sweaters, sweatshirts, T-shirts, hosiery, and pantyhose. Garment dying is done by placing several garments, like 24 sweaters, into a large nylon net bag. From 10-50 of the bags are placed in large tubs with dye. The dye is agitated by a machine called a paddle dyer.

Paddle dryer: agitates dye during the garment dying process.

Screen Printing: Screen printing is a technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil.  A roller, or squeegee is moved across the stencil, forcing ink past the woven mesh.  The image is of a t-shirt that was screen printed.

Stone Wash: Stone washing is a process used to give a garment a worn out appearance. Stone washing also helps to increase the softness and flexibility of a garment. The process uses large stones to roughen the fabric. The garments are placed in a large clothes washer with the stones. The fabric is pounded and beaten as the tumbling stones ride up the paddles inside the drum and fall back on the fabric.

 Sublimation Printing: Sublimation printing is done with a computer. The computer employs a printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto the fabric.  One advantage of sublimation printing is that the garments have a softer feel than other printing methods. The imprints are dye based, not ink-based, so the dye actually becomes part of the fabric color, embedded with the fibers. Image is of shirts that have been printed using the sublimation printing method.