Here's something interesting, you know you've heard us say it before when describing Japanese Denim, singeing of cotton fibers. First let us discuss a singe, it's the slight scorching by the use of a heat source such as a flame, gas, match, or other means. The ways to singe fibers have been radically changed due to technology but the premise is still the same. But the question remains, "Why?"
Why singe fabric? Well there are many reasons, one of which is that when cotton is plucked, separated, and woven into strands, those strands are not as tight as you may think. They have loose fibers that were not able to be woven into a strand and, thus, they stick out giving the fabric a "hairy" or "slubby" appearance. This slub is sought after by denim aficionados because it shows that the cotton hasn't been altered and that's in a "loomstate" meaning that it's straight from the loom that wove it with no prior treatments. It's as close as you can come to making a pair of loomstate jeans yourself although it does come with a higher price tag.
However, when singeing of cotton occurs, the fabric is lead through a series of trolleys and rollers until it can be passed through a flame. This flame will then burn off the excess fibers, since cotton fibers burn easily and into an ash, they can just be brushed off at the end. This gives printing on fabric a higher clarity without that "frosty" appearance which may blur the image manufacturers want conveyed. It also lessens the pilling of certain weaves, pilling is when a certain piece of clothing is worn too much then the fabric bubbles up to form little tiny balls. They can be removed with a fabric shaver but ultimately they will return, in any case, singeing cotton lessens the formation of pilling.
Sometimes both sides of the fabric will be passed through a singeing process or just one side depending on what the fabric will be used for. There is nothing wrong with the "loomstate" of the fabric, it's just not sought after for many things. But in the case of denim, it is highly sought after and probably always will be but, again, it has a higher price tag because of this. Now that you know what singeing is, we can move forward with other terms that will most likely come your way during your vintage fashion adventure.
Why singe fabric? Well there are many reasons, one of which is that when cotton is plucked, separated, and woven into strands, those strands are not as tight as you may think. They have loose fibers that were not able to be woven into a strand and, thus, they stick out giving the fabric a "hairy" or "slubby" appearance. This slub is sought after by denim aficionados because it shows that the cotton hasn't been altered and that's in a "loomstate" meaning that it's straight from the loom that wove it with no prior treatments. It's as close as you can come to making a pair of loomstate jeans yourself although it does come with a higher price tag.
However, when singeing of cotton occurs, the fabric is lead through a series of trolleys and rollers until it can be passed through a flame. This flame will then burn off the excess fibers, since cotton fibers burn easily and into an ash, they can just be brushed off at the end. This gives printing on fabric a higher clarity without that "frosty" appearance which may blur the image manufacturers want conveyed. It also lessens the pilling of certain weaves, pilling is when a certain piece of clothing is worn too much then the fabric bubbles up to form little tiny balls. They can be removed with a fabric shaver but ultimately they will return, in any case, singeing cotton lessens the formation of pilling.
Sometimes both sides of the fabric will be passed through a singeing process or just one side depending on what the fabric will be used for. There is nothing wrong with the "loomstate" of the fabric, it's just not sought after for many things. But in the case of denim, it is highly sought after and probably always will be but, again, it has a higher price tag because of this. Now that you know what singeing is, we can move forward with other terms that will most likely come your way during your vintage fashion adventure.