Claims
- 1. A method of forming, in unsewn dyed denim fabric or in a newly manufactured garment made of a dyed denim fabric, localized areas of variation in color density through the removal of dye that provide a stone washed appearance, which method consists essentially of:
- (1) contacting the unsewn fabric or garment with an aqueous composition consisting essentially of:
- (a) a major proportion of water;
- (b) at least about 2500 CMC units of a cellulase enzyme composition per liter of aqueous composition; and
- (2) subjecting the unsewn fabric or garment to mechanical action for a sufficient time for said cellulase enzyme to produce variations in color substantially the same as the stone washed appearance produced by pumice stone processing.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical action is a machine agitation.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein after the fabric or garment is contacted with the aqueous composition, but before mechanical action, the aqueous composition is removed from contact with the fabric or garment.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the unsewn fabric or garment is contacted with the aqueous composition for at least five minutes.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the unsewn fabric or garment is subjected to mechanical agitation for 30 to 720 minutes.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellulase is a fungal cellulase.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the unsewn fabric or fabric of the garment is indigo dyed denim.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment is indigo dyed denim pants.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment is an indigo dyed denim jacket.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous composition additionally consists essentially of an electrolyte.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous composition additionally consists essentially of a builder salt.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous composition additionally consists essentially of a buffer system capable of maintaining the pH near the pH of optimal activity for the enzyme.
- 13. A method of forming, in unsew indigo dyed denim fabric or a newly manufactured garment made of an indigo dyed denim fabric, localized areas of variation in color density through the removal of indigo dye that provide a stone washed appearance, which method consists essentially of:
- (1) contacting the unsewn fabric or the garment with an aqueous composition consisting essentially of:
- (a) a major proportion of water;
- (b) at least about 2500 CMC units of a cellulase enzyme composition per liter of aqueous composition;
- (c) about 1 to 50 wt-% of an electrolyte; and
- (d) about 20 to 60 wt-% of a buffer capable of maintaining the pH at the pH of optimal activity for the cellulase enzyme; and
- (2) subjecting the unsewn fabric or garment to mechanical action for a sufficient period of time for said cellulase enzyme to produce variations in color density substantially the same as the stone washed appearance produced by pumice stone processing.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the cellulase is a fungal cellulase.
- 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the buffer is a phosphate buffer.
- 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the unsewn fabric or garment is contacted with the aqueous composition for at least five minutes.
- 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the unsewn fabric or garment is subjected to mechanical agitation for 30 to 720 minutes.
- 18. A method of claim 13, wherein the mechanical action is a machine agitation.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/096,953, filed Sept. 15, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,864.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
Number |
Date |
Country |
177165 |
Apr 1986 |
EPX |
220016 |
Apr 1987 |
EPX |
252317 |
Jan 1988 |
EPX |
2136029 |
|
GBX |
1368599 |
Feb 1974 |
GBX |
2094826 |
Sep 1982 |
GBX |
2095275 |
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GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Celluzyme.TM. Novo Enzymes Product Sheet, Apr., 1987. |
Merck Index, p. 210, 8th edition, 1968. |
Wall Street Journal, May 29, 1987, pp. 1, 9. |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
96953 |
Sep 1987 |
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