An activated cotton material and a method for processing cotton to form the activated cotton material are provided. The activated cotton material includes a layer of natural wax that is locked to the surface of cotton fibers by a wax lock.

The invention generally relates to fabric dyeing, such as fabric dyeing using indigo or sulphur dyes. A process is provided which provides a dyed yarn having reduced dye penetration and a white core. The process involves modification of existing sulfur dye ranges to more efficiently and in an environmentally improved method produce dyed fabrics. The modification involves one or more of i) using of a barrier compound to subsequent dye applications; ii) performing a scouring stage without a caustic agent; iii) bypassing scouring and/or scour rising; iv) using sodium bicarbonate to control the pH of dye tanks; v) reducing the dye concentration and increasing the number of dye vats; and vi) adding a sizing stage to the dye range. The invention also is directed to yarns dyed on dye ranges through use of the process, and fabrics formed from the dyed yarns.

The invention generally relates to fabric dyeing, such as fabric dyeing using indigo or sulphur dyes. A process is provided which provides a dyed yarn having reduced dye penetration and a white core. The process involves modification of existing sulfur dye ranges to more efficiently and in an environmentally improved method produce dyed fabrics. The modification involves one or more of i) using of a barrier compound to subsequent dye applications; ii) performing a scouring stage without a caustic agent; iii) bypassing scouring and/or scour rising; iv) using sodium bicarbonate to control the pH of dye tanks; v) reducing the dye concentration and increasing the number of dye vats; and vi) adding a sizing stage to the dye range. The invention also is directed to yarns dyed on dye ranges through use of the process, and fabrics formed from the dyed yarns.

Methods for processing denim are provided. An initial fabric is abraded by passing the initial fabric through an abrader at a first predetermined speed, thereby obtaining a pre-washed fabric with an abraded texture. The abrader comprises one or more sanding boards, where each respective sanding board has a respective diamond surface that contacts the initial fabric while spinning about a respective axis at the respective center of the respective sanding board during the abrading. The pre-washed fabric is then washed with an ozone composition, thereby obtaining an ozone washed fabric.

The present invention relates to yarn dyeing, such as denim dyeing. A process provides a dyed yarn having reduced dye penetration and a white core at lower cost. The improved process for yarn dyeing is referred to herein as the CleanKore technology. The CleanKore technology improves one or more steps in dye ranges to achieve dyeing of the yarn while retaining a white core at the center of the yarn. When viewing a cross-section of a yarn, the peripheral portion is dyed while the center remains white (not dyed). The CleanKore technology modifies the scouring stage (or phase), the scour rinsing stage, the dyeing stage, and/or the dye rinsing phase of existing dye ranges. The modifications may be applied individually or any combinations thereof to the existing dye range.

The present invention relates to yarn dyeing, such as denim dyeing. A process provides a dyed yarn having reduced dye penetration and a white core at lower cost. The improved process for yarn dyeing is referred to herein as the CleanKore technology. The CleanKore technology improves one or more steps in dye ranges to achieve dyeing of the yarn while retaining a white core at the center of the yarn. When viewing a cross-section of a yarn, the peripheral portion is dyed while the center remains white (not dyed). The CleanKore technology modifies the scouring stage (or phase), the scour rinsing stage, the dyeing stage, and/or the dye rinsing phase of existing dye ranges. The modifications may be applied individually or any combinations thereof to the existing dye range.

Casings, dye tablets, DIY activity-kits include one or more casings, one or more encased dye tablets, or a combination thereof, that are configured to impart an artistic effect to an article, hydrographic sheets, and dip and decorator activity-kits including one or more hydrographic sheets and an instruction for imparting an artistic effect to the article using the one or more hydrographic sheets. The casings include at least one compartment formed of a water-soluble film, and one or more agents disposed within the at least one compartment. The encased dye tablet includes one or more agents compounded with a filler and a binder. The one or more agents include at least one colorant formulation and at least one fixative.

Processes and apparatus for dyeing a textile product are provided whereby an undyed textile product is introduced into a substantially anaerobic dyeing chamber having an oxygen content of less than 1000 ppm oxygen therein, and at least two dye mixtures having a differential dye exhaustion rate of at least 10% are applied onto the textile product within the substantially anaerobic dying chamber. Thereafter the dyed textile product may be exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere so as to oxidize the applied dyes. At least one of the dyes may have a dye exhaustion rate of at least about 25%, or even at least about 50%. The embodiments herein are especially adapted to dyeing of textile products whereby one dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a sulfur dye and another dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a leuco indigo dye.

Processes and apparatus for dyeing a textile product are provided whereby an undyed textile product is introduced into a substantially anaerobic dyeing chamber having an oxygen content of less than 1000 ppm oxygen therein, and at least two dye mixtures having a differential dye exhaustion rate of at least 10% are applied onto the textile product within the substantially anaerobic dying chamber. Thereafter the dyed textile product may be exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere so as to oxidize the applied dyes. At least one of the dyes may have a dye exhaustion rate of at least about 25%, or even at least about 50%. The embodiments herein are especially adapted to dyeing of textile products whereby one dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a sulfur dye and another dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a leuco indigo dye.

Hydrographic sheets and dip and decorator activity-kits are provided. The dip and decorator activity-kits comprise one or more hydrographic sheet formed of a water-soluble film, having decoration art formed from a non-aqueous ink or dye disposed on at least one side of the sheet, and an instruction for imparting an artistic effect to the article using the one or more hydrographic sheets. The hydrographic sheet leaves floating decoration art upon dissolution in water and wherein the floating decoration art comprises a softened and at least partially solubilized water-soluble film with decoration art for adhering to an article.