Stone Washed

Stone Washing describes a washing method for jeans, which makes them look older and used (see: aged look). Translated, it means "washed with stones" and also describes in essence what happens during this process.

In the past, pumice stones were used for stone washing, but this required a lot of raw materials. In the course of time, various alternatives were tested and now sandblasting is used. They can be used to create pinpoint patterns on denim material. In addition to sandblasting, chemicals and enzymes are also used to treat the surface of the jeans.

This method of artificial aging of jeans is possible only because of the dyeing method. Denim fabrics are dyed only on the surface, which allows the natural light color of cotton to reappear after wear of the indigo dye. Accordingly, these signs of wear are normal and would occur sooner or later in any jeans, likewise in the raw jeans that are not industrially washed. Stone washing is merely a method of accelerating this process.

Often, the stone washing process is accompanied by deliberate "destroys & repairs", which further strengthen the "used look".