TITLE: "SELF MADE WASH" DESCRIPTION

CURRENT TECHNIQUE

Currently the ageing procedure and/or 'nobilisation ' of denim jeans or cotton as regards the finished article of clothing (i.e. pants, trousers, coats, jackets, skirts, shirts, etc.) ready made, follows a series of industrial phases in the factories that are specialized in the sector, the so-called INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRIES.

When the articles of clothing arrive at the store they are either completely or partially finished, depending on the particular preferences of the clients. 1. The first phase is the so-called "used" phase (brushing or rubbing with abrasive paper) which simulates a used look in the points where wear is normally evidenced, and creates imperfections that are the signs of wear.

The article of clothing is placed on an inflatable mannequin that simulates the human form. In Japan, instead, the article of clothing is put on a 'Dime' or a frame that has the silhouette of a human form.

Ageing can be carried out with the use of mechanical brushes but the most commonly used practice is that of having specialised workers, armed with ergonomic abrasive sponges, brush the fabric. The sponges have sandpaper attached to them with Velcro. In some cases the "used" phase involves the light spraying of one spot of the article of clothing with white pigment, the so-called "used pigment" that gives the article a drier, more wrinkled and stiffer quality.

2. The second phase is "pre-wash" which serves to eliminate the extra layer of starch that had been applied to the article of clothing to facilitate the sewing together of the pieces on the sewing machine.

3. The third phase is "Stone Wash" that serves to accelerate the natural process of ageing of jeans. It consists in the use of pumice stones, Japanese stones, water and enzymes that together produce a variety of different ageing effects, depending on the number of times the article is washed - 20/30/50/100 domestic wash cycles. 4. Once the article of clothing has been dried in the Tumbler Dryer it goes to the phase called Chemical Spray or Golden Brush. The articles of clothing are put on inflatable mannequins and then the areas in which wear usually shows are

sprayed or brushed with a substance made of water, potassium permanganate, chlorine and, oftentimes, acetic acid. This is done to accentuate the worn or discoloured look of those points where wear usually does occur.

This treatment has been banned in Japan, Germany and the United States both because of its high tendency to produce allergic reactions as well as the damage it does to the environment.

5. The next phase involves the use of a "Drimell" that serves to make marks that look like the fabric has been worn through with use or frayed at the points where this sort of evidence of wear usually occurs, for example, at the top of the pockets, on the seat of the pants , at the back edge of the hem, at the knee, etc.

6. The next phase is the 'Neutralization' which is supposed to eliminate all of the chemical substances used so far through washing the articles of clothing in water and bisulphite. Hydrogen peroxide is also added to sterilise the articles of clothing.

7. After the usual Tumble Dry Cycle there is a phase during which the article of clothing is covered with resin. This can be done by immersing the article in a bath of resin (in order to give it greater resistance to the washing out of indigo that will occur later with each domestic washing) or it may be sprayed with a pressure air gun, either on the total surface of the garment or on specific points where wear is usually evidenced, in order to give the garment the naturally crumpled look of a garment that has been worn many times. Usually this instrument is used on the front hip area, behind the knees and on the seat of the pants (these are the so-called three dimensional marks 3D). 8. Once the garments have been covered with resin they are then placed in static ovens in order to the resin to polymerize.

9. After they are taken out of the oven the garments are then subjected to one last washing with Silicon Softener so as to give them a feeling of softness when they are touched. 10. Many times these garments are then sprayed or blotted with coloured pigment in certain spots to give them the 'lived in' look of dirt stained clothing, (i.e. 'vintage') 11. Oftentimes 'yellowing' or 'greying' products ('dirty colour') are put directly in the washing machine to simulate ageing caused by the passage of time and exposure to sunlight.

12. The last phase is to refinish the garment by applying the rivets, buttons and labels. This is done thorough the use of presses and labellers. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED SOLUTIONS PROPOSED

From the above description of the procedure, which provides a synthesis of the current technique, a number of problems clearly emerge: -the garments treated with the above described procedure are all the same, i.e. the marks appear on the same areas of the garment irregardless of considerations of height or weight, etc.

-the garments treated with the above described procedure often give the overwhelming appearance of artificial ageing rather than the naturally aged look they are aiming for.

-The excessive use of chemical substances are likely to leave residues on the garments possibly making them toxic or allergy producing.

Proposed solutions:

The procedure which is the object of the present application for a patent proposes a particular production process which also provides a service and solves the above- mentioned problems. Its particular production process continues to rely, in part, on industrial production, but it introduces a personalising or refinishing stage which will allow for the making of unique final product. This is because the ageing process is carried out on the basis of the measurements taken of the client's own body, and the fact that the particular types of ageing to be carried out are chosen by the client himself from a variety of sample demonstration garments. Moreover, the reduction, or in some cases, complete elimination of chemical substances makes the finished product non-allergy producing . In addition, the proposed process has the added benefit of reducing the environmental impact of the traditional production process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE

As has already been pointed out, the process named SELF MADE WASH creates a different procedure. The articles of clothing are industrially reproduced but the personalised refinishing of the garments in denim cotton material is subject entirely to the control of the client and his personal tastes, preferences and needs.

The consumer of the product, then, is placed at the very center of this procedure; he

is made the sole point of reference. Moreover the individual consumer is able to say with certainty that the procedure he has chosen produces a reduction of environmental pollution. 100 Using this new procedure there would be a reduction of the considerable environmental impact of the excessive chemical substances used in the traditional procedure. With SELF MADE WASH the consumer gets a product that is clean, allergy-free and has no residue of harmful chemical substances.

There is a two-fold benefit from the new procedure : 105 - it offers the consumer an original and innovative service that is completely lacking in the current state of things.

- It offers the consumer an original an innovative product which is not available on the market today.

TECHNIQUE 110 1. The readymade garments, not treated for ageing, are arranged according to garment type, size and model for the customer to examine and then try on in the fitting rooms.

2. Once the customer has chosen the garment he passes on to the 'DIME' phase in which he selects the silhouette frame with wear marks that he prefers. This is then 115 applied in the 'USED' phase and the wear marks are traced out with chalk in areas that have been determined by a careful measurements of the customer's own build.

Brushing also takes place in this phase. There would also be a suction system to clear away the dust formed from the rubbing of the garment with the brushes and sand paper. 120 3. In the next phase the customer consults the SELF MADE WASH archives, i.e. catalogues of pictures that display the various degrees of fadedness from which the customer can select the look he wants for his garment.

4. Next the customer is asked to selected the types of products he wishes to use for the STONE WASH (for example, pumice stones, enzymes and Japanese stones)

125 based on the kind of final result he wants. Sample display garments will show the client the various results that can be obtained based on different combinations of these products.

5. The next phase is that of the "touch up". Paint brushes are used to apply chemical

substances that are then sponged off . This procedure avoids the use of the spraying 130 cabin where the vapour and water produced require special disposal treatments.

6. In the next phase the wear marks and rips are made by using a "drimmel". The customer selects these by looking at sample garments.

7. The next phase is the final wash which serves to neutralise and clean the garment. It is then possible to finish off with the application of either silicone or softener if the

135 customer wants a garment that is soft to the touch. Otherwise bathing the garment in resin can be done to give the garment a drier, stiffer feel.

8. In the last phase rivets, buttons, patches labels and prints are applied. These are chosen by the customer from sample garments that are on display.

All of these articles can be applied in the center with the use of small presses or 140 sewing machines.