One Wash
One Wash is a finishing process that washes textile or a product once to remove sizing and excess dye, and to adjust shrinkage and changes in texture in advance.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
One wash is a finishing process in which textile or a sewn product is washed once after weaving or sewing. It is especially a term used for denim, but it is also used for cotton fabrics, knits, shirt fabrics, and more. The washing method and whether the target is textile or a product vary depending on the design and production process.
Washing removes the sizing adhered during weaving and makes it easier to bring out the material's natural character. It also serves the purpose of causing a certain amount of shrinkage before wear. However, one wash does not necessarily eliminate shrinkage completely.
Texture and Appearance Characteristics
Compared with unwashed textile or products, it is characterized by reduced stiffness and firmness and an easier-to-settled texture. In denim, it can retain the deep indigo color relatively well while giving a natural look different from stiff raw denim.
Color fading, wrinkling, twisting, and dimensional change vary depending on water flow, detergent, temperature, and drying conditions during washing. Even when labeled as one wash, the texture and degree of finishing are not uniform, so checking with an actual sample is important.
Main Applications
It is used for denim pants, jackets, workwear, shirts, cut-and-sew items, and more. It is chosen for items intended to have a casual washed look or for planning that wants to anticipate shrinkage as much as possible after delivery.
It is applied not only to heavyweight denim and chino cloth, but also to lightweight cotton fabrics and knits. Because the finish differs depending on the thickness and weave of the material, for light apparel for spring and summer, the impact on wrinkling and sheerness is checked, while for fall and winter, the degree of stiffness and shrinkage is checked.
Selection and Handling Notes
When selecting textile, confirm the width after washing, fabric weight, hue, and shrinkage rate, and reflect these in the pattern and fabric consumption. In particular, cotton and linen may shrink differently in the warp and weft directions, so necessary relaxation and straightening or testing is performed before cutting.
When product washing is performed after sewing, sewing thread, interfacing, accessories, prints, and the like are also made to withstand washing. Because puckering, waviness in seams, and marks or color transfer from metal accessories may occur, washing tests are carried out at the prototyping stage.
For home laundering, following the care label is basic. Dark-colored items, especially indigo-dyed products, may transfer color to other garments during the initial wash, so cautionary instructions such as washing separately are considered.
- Confirm shrinkage rate by washing direction, drying method, and material blend ratio.
- Textile washing and product washing differ in dimensional stability and how the look develops.
- Check lot-to-lot color differences and texture differences against the sample.
Differences from Similar Terms
One wash is a term that often indicates the number of washes or a basic washing process, and its purpose and appearance differ from finishing such as stone wash, which uses stones or abrasive materials to create strong fading and a worn look. Used processing is a general term for finishing that creates the look of worn, aged garments.
Anti-shrink finishing is a process whose main purpose is to suppress dimensional change caused by washing. One wash can have a pre-shrinking effect, but it is not a finishing name that guarantees anti-shrink performance. Product washing refers to the process of washing a sewn product, and one wash may describe its finish or processing content.
Frequently Asked Questions
If it is one wash, will it not shrink when washed?
One wash may allow for some initial shrinkage in advance, but dimensions may still change after subsequent washing. Since differences arise depending on the material, weave, and drying method, it is important to check shrinkage data and conduct washing tests before mass production.
What is the difference between one wash and raw denim?
In general, raw denim refers to unwashed denim that still has the sizing remaining after weaving, or denim with minimal washing. One wash denim has been washed once to remove the sizing and settle the texture. However, the scope of the term may differ depending on the brand or producer.
Which should be chosen, textile washing or product washing?
Textile washing makes it easier to adjust width and texture before cutting, while product washing is a method that more easily creates a unified look including seams and edges. Because product washing increases the impact on accessories and sewing specifications, the choice is made based on design, dimensional accuracy, and equipment conditions.
