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

    Shrinkage - What is it?

    The Resource Centre
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    • simoncS
      simonc
      Banned
      Joined:

      Nice.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • derivative666D
        derivative666
        Joined:

        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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • SeulS
            Seul
            Joined:

            There isn't enough to shrink…

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • C
              calhart
              Joined:

              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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                @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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • C
                  calhart
                  Joined:

                  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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • djD
                    dj
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined:

                    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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • organisysO
                      organisys
                      Raw and Unwashed
                      Joined:

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

                      Pride of Japan :-)

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • neph93N
                        neph93
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        @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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Filthy2123ozjunkieF
                          Filthy2123ozjunkie
                          見習いボスー
                          Joined:

                          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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Filthy2123ozjunkieF
                            Filthy2123ozjunkie
                            見習いボスー
                            Joined:

                            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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • goosehdG
                              goosehd
                              Mod Squad
                              Joined:

                              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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                              • CosmoSix5C
                                CosmoSix5
                                Haraki san Prodigy
                                Joined:

                                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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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