What is the Tapstitch's garment washing techniques?

Snow Washing

1. Preparation of Stones:

Pumice stones are soaked in a potassium permanganate solution to prepare them for the snow-washing process.

2. Grinding with Clothes:

Once the stones are ready, they are dry-ground together with the clothes in a special washing machine or drum. This grinding action creates friction and abrasion, which is key to achieving the desired snowflake effect on the fabric.

3. Snowflake Effect:

As the clothes go through the snow washing process, the abrasive action of the stones combined with the potassium permanganate solution creates a unique burnished appearance on the fabric. This effect resembles snowflakes scattered across the garment.

4. Washing Off Stone Dust:

After achieving the desired effect, the clothes are removed from the washing machine, and any remaining stone dust is washed off using water in a washing tank. This ensures that the garments are clean and free from any abrasive residue.

5. Neutralization:

To neutralize any remaining effects of the process, oxalic acid is applied to the garments. This helps to balance the pH levels and remove any residual chemicals from the fabric.

6. General Wash:

The garments undergo a general wash to ensure they are fresh, clean, and ready to wear. This step helps to remove any remaining traces of chemicals or impurities from the fabric.

7. Softener Application:

Finally, to enhance the comfort of the garments, a softener is applied to make the fabric even softer. This adds a luxurious touch to the finished product and ensures a comfortable wearing experience for the consumer.

Stone Wash

Stone washing gives garments their distinctive faded and lived-in appearance. Here's how it's done:

1. Preparation and Soaking:

To achieve the best results, the denim garments are fully soaked in a washing tank, and the water level is carefully controlled to ensure thorough saturation.

2. Mixing with Stones:

In the washing tank, the denim is mixed with various types of stones, such as yellow, white, AAA, or artificial stones. Rubber balls or other objects may also be added to create different washing effects.

3. Rolling and Rubbing:

As the denim and stones roll and rub against each other in the washing tank, the abrasive action of the stones gradually wears down the fabric, resulting in a faded appearance. The longer this process is allowed to continue, the lighter the color of the denim becomes, creating a sharp contrast effect.

Acid Wash

Compared to stone washing, acid washing is a method that chemically fades the color of fabrics. Depending on the ratio of chlorine to water, the fabric can have a faded color style or a bleached white style.