Sanforization - What is it?

[Giles]

I was looking for a photo of the Sanforization machine we use, but could not find one.  I did, however, fing a pic of the skewing machine.  Skew is sometimes intentionally introduced into denim to negate the twist is introduced into the fabric when being woven….

[Snowy]

@scroogen:

Haha I thought that maybe you had…  I thought it would be nice to see a diagram with text saying what the machine is actually doing. Just seeing the text might be a little hard to wrap your head around

Took me 20 minutes or so to get my head around the text, enjoyed the mental challenge. Appreciate the picture which helped validate it.

Funny that I've know what sanforization does for years, but until this couldn't understand how. And it's far more complicated than I assumed (I had imagined it was given a single wash or something).

The Skewing machine looks to be full of pressure/gas gauges. The scale of the machinery is crazy too!

(Aside 3rd person from the point of view of this photo, love the jacket and jeans, lol.)

[Giles]

That is Brigitte, Roger from VMC's wife.  The jeans are Edwin, the jacket is Filson….(anyone see Roger, actually trying to get into the machine?)

[Finn666]

i only have eyes for Ayumi

[Snowy]

resisting urge to hijack (Thanks Giles).

[Chris]

Who's the guy between Haraki and Ayumi?  Someone from the factory explaining how the skewing machine works?

Oh, and I enjoyed playing a quick game of "Where's Roger?"  I missed him the first time around.

[Giles]

Yep, he's the factory manager explaining how it all works….

[Sugar Mountain]

I was wondering, Why does Haraki prefer sanforization for the majority of IH denim? Selling one-wash denim would address any issues with shrinkage so I presume there are additional reasons.

[Giles]

He likes the stability that sanforization gives him.  It allows him to be be more sure of creating consistency in production.  With education (read me, going on and on and on and on about it) he is learning to embrace imperfection…..

[Chris]

From a practical standpoint, I sympathize with Haraki, but I'm glad you've been wearing him down.  Raw is much more interesting in the long run.

[RedStripe]

great post, very informative

[nurunuru]

Was reading a copy of Life Magazine from 1944, as one does, and came across this ad regarding sanforization. Thought it might be of interest to at least one other person. Maybe.

[Giles]

Thank you.....

[NickD]

The "Just buy what you need" line is an interesting line, true enough but not what you expect from an advert - must be from WWII.

[Giles]

It is:

[NickD]

I don't think I'm too observant this morning - the bombs should have been a giveaway!