Involves the transfer of a dye or pigment to material such as a cloth piece or a made-up garment, by means of a non-aqueous substrate as the vehicle.

The above-mentioned process being the object of the present invention, is widely employed in the textile industry, mainly for a market in which fashion is extremely dynamic and in which differentiation could contribute towards the success of a given product.

The novelty is expressed both from a technical point of view and from that of the visual effect shown in the finished textile product.

Technically, the traditional dyeing process of made-up garments pertaining to the technical state, is obtained by using water as the dye or pigment transfer vehicle to the textile fibers, whereas this does not occur in the process that is the object of the present patent.

The novelty consists of using a non- aqueous substrate, so as to obtain the same effect of transferring the dye or pigment to the textile fibers and particularly, to the made-up garment.

As a rule, in the stone washing processes used in industrial laundering, the friction of machine-washed garments from the use of enzymes or stones, produces an effect of abrasion

on the fiber surface which results in the stone-washed appearance of the garments. However, in the above-mentioned process, instead being stone- washed, the made-up garment is submitted to a dyeing process. Thus, the process herein requested for registration consists of dyeing the made-up garment and is precisely the opposite procedure as compared to the stone washing process, in which, due to friction, the garment is randomly bleached or faded.

The effect obtained is that of another method of processing made-up garments according to the clothing demands in fashion. It is thereby possible to obtain superficial dyeing in made-up garments and even, in unfinished products.

Although it is true that similar effects can be obtained with the use of spray dyer techniques, apart from being very costly, the end results show undesirable imperfections and irregular coatings.

In this kind of process the dye or pigment is added to a substrate that absorbs the dye or pigment so that it can be applied by using the proper equipment. In other words the aforementioned dye or pigment is fed into a rotating machine, duly equipped for this application. It should be noted that the machine must be totally enclosed, with no holes, so that the transfer vehicle does not overflow from the dye-spreader pan.

Plastic lids or any other light density products such as cork, PVC pipes and fiberglass pellets fed into the above-

mentioned machine are innocuous in the aforementioned process and are used exclusively to provide a uniform-consistency.

Upon obtaining such a consistency by feeding the machine with products such as lids, cork and others, the pieces destined to the dyeing process are then respectively added.

By using controlled parameters for the abovementioned dye transfer, permits the production of uniform pieces and a visual effect which had not been previously obtained in processes pertaining to this particular technical state (status).

Also, according to the quantity of substrate employed the degree of dye penetration in the made-up garment can be controlled.

It is worth noting that upon using the traditionally used stonewashing process, the white parts are obtained on the dye piece in relief spots, whereas in the process herein described, this result will be randomly obtained on the different surface levels of the made-up garments. The end result is a superficial dye and the visual effect is literally improved.

The process in question can be applied on a wide range of textile fibers, with the application of dye or pigment by means of rotating machines, and the product fixation is obtained by using the desired procedures.

The process in question is therefore considered ecologically correct, since only a fraction of the required amount of water is employed for a conventional industrial dye.

The figures annexed hereto illustrate the process requested for registration.

Figure 1 shows the dye added to the vehicle and ready for being fed into the equipment.

Figure 2 shows the light density material such as lids, cork, etc. , used to obtain a uniform consistency.

Figure 3 shows the pieces in the initial stages of the dyeing process.

Figure 4 shows their appearance after the vehicle has been added.

Figure 5 shows the end of the dyeing process.

Figure 6 shows the condition of the low density materials at the end of the process.

Figure 7 shows a piece duly submitted to the process.

Figure 8 shows another piece submitted to the transfer process.

Figure 9 shows a piece submitted to the traditional stonewashing process.

Figure 10 shows the same piece submitted to the process herein described namely, of dye or pigment transfer.

After adding dye 1 to the machine and feeding it with the above-mentioned low resistance materials such as plastic lids, cork and fiber glass pellets 2, the machine is then put into operation until the materials have reached a uniform consistency 3, on top of which the pieces to be dyed are placed 4 and thus receive the desired treatment 5, until the dye process has been concluded 6. Upon removal of the pieces 6, the low density materials 2 are unaffected by the dyeing substances and can be re-utilized in another process. The results of the dyeing process show the technique's success, simply by comparing the stone-washed piece 9 and the one resulting from the dye process transfer 10 hereby submitted for registration.