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Iron Heart Forum

Discover our "What Is?" section to learn more about denim!

Shrinkage - What is it?

The Resource Centre
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  • S
    simonc
    Banned
    Joined: 28 Nov 2010

    Nice.

    last edited by 6 Nov 2014, 10:38 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • D
      derivative666
      Joined: 30 Jan 2011

      Shrinkage, isn't this what happens during an ice cold shower?

      "honorable mention to the bearded giant aka derivative666 for being a stand up dude & not changing with the seasons since i've been around these parts" Monday

      last edited by 6 Nov 2014, 15:17 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • G
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined: 22 Sept 2009

        Not to me…..:-)

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 6 Nov 2014, 15:25 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          Seul
          Joined: 24 Nov 2009

          There isn't enough to shrink…

          last edited by 6 Nov 2014, 17:53 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • C
            calhart
            Joined: 1 May 2015

            Hi Guys,
            im going to resurrect this topic, or put it to sleep. i work for an industrial laundry machine supplier and some of our machines produce 120kg of washed linen every 2 minutes. we spend huge amounts of money proving to large hotel chains that its not our fault their sheets or towels have shrunk. we regularly ship sample packages to our lab in the Netherlands to be test. and then people dont like being told that the 1 million euro worth of sheets they just bought will shrink unevenly or by huge amounts. we sometimes get garments to test and my friend there states in his opinion some denim is the worst for quality and for ripping people off, for example one manufacturer in particular beginning with D the denim is bought extremly cheaply and the cost of one pair to produce can be under 3 euro, they then sell for up to 250 euro!! the shrinkage in these is abnormal.
            all items shrink at different rates even from the same roll of material. what im getting to is ….IHUK i think do an awesome job of informing on size and shrinkage, and the jeans are top quality  🙂

            last edited by 9 May 2015, 07:23 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • G
              Giles
              IHUK Crew
              Joined: 22 Sept 2009

              @calhart You do know I am desperate to see one of your machines don't you?

              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

              last edited by 9 May 2015, 07:35 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • C
                calhart
                Joined: 1 May 2015

                this link is a quick video, sorry about the dodgy music 🙂
                if you ever want to look round one of these places there are a couple near you i think,

                last edited by 9 May 2015, 10:13 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • D
                  dj
                  Raw and Unwashed
                  Joined: 25 Jul 2019

                  Pandemic has been great for me, more time for exercise, meditation, yoga, baking, cooking etc.

                  But I have lost 1.5 stone and some of my jeans have not shrunk with me. What would be the best way to shrink them - each pair I have had had a hand got wash before being hemmed.

                  Should I try as hot a wash as possible in the washing machine, inside out but with a gentle spin cycle? I don’t have a tumble dryer.  Need to permanently lose at least an inch from the waist of the trousers.

                  last edited by 21 Oct 2020, 16:06 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • O
                    organisys
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined: 24 Mar 2015

                    Wash em Hot and for a long time, it's the agitation that helps the shrinkage….

                    Pride of Japan :-)

                    last edited by 21 Oct 2020, 16:33 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • N
                      neph93
                      見習いボス
                      Joined: 18 Aug 2014

                      @dj:

                      Should I try as hot a wash as possible in the washing machine, inside out but with a gentle spin cycle? I don’t have a tumble dryer.  Need to permanently lose at least an inch from the waist of the trousers.

                      Heat, water and agitation together is what you are after. But there is no guarantee it will work. It depends entirely on the fabric involved, how many and which processes they have been subjected to. Cotton fabric has a finite level of shrinkage. If this is maxed out already through, washing, sanforising, or other processes you won’t get any shrinkage at all whatever you do to them.

                      «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                      We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                      • Dame Vera Lynn
                      last edited by 21 Oct 2020, 20:25 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • F
                        Filthy2123ozjunkie
                        見習いボスー
                        Joined: 21 Jan 2013

                        I was surprised to find out that I was able to shrink a pair of once washed 822/ 21 oz denim a full half inch in the waist by soaking in boiling water. I am reheating the water now to go for a second soak.

                        Waist before was a 19.2 and after an hour was 18.6 ???

                        last edited by 21 Jun 2021, 15:41 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • F
                          Filthy2123ozjunkie
                          見習いボスー
                          Joined: 21 Jan 2013

                          I guess maybe it was the way I was measuring because they are back to being close to a 19 in the waist after the second soak.  Seems like I lost about a half an inch in the inseam though. And got some cool roping.

                          last edited by 21 Jun 2021, 17:04 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • G
                            goosehd
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined: 8 Apr 2016

                            Bumping this thread as it’s a question that pops up fairly frequently. Yes, as Mike pointed out you can shrink 21oz., but you will also notice that the shrinkage was temporary if at all.

                            Not saying that it can’t be done, but some of the denims that you do see shrink is temporary at best.

                            One of the things you need to pay attention to when buying is the product description listed for each item. It is a really good guide to use when purchasing and for taking care of your prized items.

                            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                            last edited by goosehd 25 May 2025, 20:37 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                            • C
                              CosmoSix5
                              Haraki san Prodigy
                              Joined: 4 Sept 2023

                              Couldn't help myself. 😂😉
                              I've tried to shrink things and I've tried not to shrink other things.. failed at both... Knowing/Ordering the right size is paramount as stated above.
                              "I don't know how you guys walk around with those things" Elaine
                              george-costanza-i-was-in-the-pool.gif

                              John 1 1-3 ❤️♥️❤️♥️

                              last edited by CosmoSix5 25 May 2025, 21:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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