EPO n B1 Relating to Acid-Wash Garments

EPO Patent B1 The patent being utilized to obtain sharp contrast and fading on the manufactured garments The process is a dry bleaching process resulting in a randomly-faded effect that is commonly referred to as “acid wash,” “snow wash,” “mineral wash,” “vintage wash,” “rock salt wash,” etc.

The Acid Wash Process Impregnating granules of a coarse, permeable material with a bleaching agent Dry-tumbling the garment with the granules to randomly fade the garment Separating the garment from the granules Granules may be pumice, rock salt, diatomaceous earth, sand, or any other coarse, permeable material.

Claim 6 of the ‘213 Patent “A method of producing a random faded effect on cloth fabric or a made-up garment which is in a wet or dry condition comprising: (a) disposing the fabric or garment which is in said wet or dry condition in a chamber in dry contact with dry granules of a coarse, permeable material, said granules having been impregnated with a bleaching agent; (b) bleaching said cloth or garment in a dry state by dry-tumbling said fabric or garment and granules together for a period of time sufficient to randomly fade the fabric or garment; and (c) separating the faded fabric or garment from the granules.”

Detection of Garments Made by the Acid Wash Process Because the process is basically a dry bleaching process, the entire garment is not faded. Only areas of the garment that come into contact with the granules will be faded. Portions of the garment that would not ordinarily be contacted by the granules, such as the inside, along seams, in pockets, behind belt loops, etc., will not be faded. Garments that are uniformly faded everywhere (including the inside) were likely bleached in a liquid bath.

Black Ribbed Sweater Inside of sweater is not bleached. This indicates a dry bleaching process where only the outer surface of the garment is faded. Bleaching in a liquid bath would fade the inside and outside of the garment uniformly.

Close Up of Black Ribbed Sweater Top surfaces of ribs are faded. Seams are not faded.

Close Up of Black Ribbed Sweater No fading between ribs further indicates the dry bleaching process. Bleaching in a liquid bath would fade the top surface of the ribs and between ribs uniformly.

Close Up of Black Ribbed Sweater Some fading just inside a cuff or neckline is not unusual for the dry bleaching process.

Blue Ribbed Sweater

Close Up of Blue Ribbed Sweater

Gray T-Shirt Note the slightly mottled, aged look. Some fading just inside cuff line. Inside of garment is not faded.

Close Up of Gray T-Shirt

Green T-Shirt Not unusual to have significant fading along the neckline where the inside of the t- shirt is exposed to the granules.

Close Up of Green T-Shirt Remainder of the inside is not faded.

Hooded Sweatshirt

Close Up of Hooded Sweatshirt Some fading along hoodline. Almost no fading deep into hood.

Close Up of Hooded Sweatshirt Minimal fading inside pocket.

Other Examples