Understanding the Key Processes of Vintage Streetwear - Four Must-Know Common Washes
- Share
- Issue Time
- Apr 28,2025
Summary
This article analyzes the durability of the four major washing processes of vintage streetwear: Stone Wash, Snow Washed, Sun Dried and Touches Dark, revealing how brands shape classics through craftsmanship and create streetwear pieces with both vintage aesthetics and quality.
Understanding the Key Processes of Vintage Streetwear - Four Must-Know Common Washes
1. Stone Wash: Classic Flavor in Coarseness
Process Principle: Garments are put together with pumice stone and chemical softener in the industrial washing machine for repeated tumbling. The friction between the stone and the fabric destroys the surface of the fiber, forming uniform fading and wear traces.
Effect:
Fabrics take on a softly distressed gray tone with natural whitening at the edges.
Cat's whiskers” or honeycomb texture on knees, hips, and other areas prone to wear;
Soft to the touch with improved breathability.
Brands represented:
Levi's: The stone washing process of its classic 501 jeans has defined the American vintage trend.
Carhartt WIP: Stone washing enhances work pants' durability and vintage texture.
2. Snow Washed: Frosty Mottled Aesthetics
Process Principle: Add potassium permanganate and other strong oxidizing agents on the basis of stone washing, forming irregular snowflake-like spots on the fabric through chemical reaction, simulating the effect of prolonged sun exposure or snow erosion.
Effect:
The color shows the texture of “frost” with interlacing shades, and white spots in the blues;
The localized overdoing of the old area presents subtle cracks, enhancing the sense of visual hierarchy.
Representative brands:
Diesel: Known for its exaggerated snowflake-washed jeans, creating a rebellious street style.
Edwin: through precise control of the concentration of the oxidizing agent, to realize the delicate Japanese vintage old.
3. Sun Dried: Precise Carving of Vintage Texture
Principle of the process: using a high-pressure spray gun to directional spray chemicals to the fabric local (such as thighs, back waist), simulating the fading and abrasion caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
Effect:
Faded areas show a natural “cloudy” gradation with a soft transition;
Precise control of where the wear occurs, e.g. “monkey marks” on the knees or whitening on the edges of the pockets.
Representative brands:
Evisu: Its Nissan line is known as a “cattle prodigy” with a three-dimensional aged effect created by the bayonet spraying process;
A.P.C.: through minimalist tailoring and precise bayonet spraying, it interprets French vintage aesthetics.
4. Hand Drawing: The Punctuation of Personalized Branding
Principle of the process: on the basic washed fabric, the craftsman hand draws wear marks, cracks or graffiti patterns, and then fixes the design by partial fading or sanding.
The effect:
Each piece becomes a “one-of-a-kind” item, with the thickness and direction of the hand-drawn lines giving the garment a unique vitality;
It can be combined with brand logos or artistic patterns to enhance the value of the collection.
Representative brands:
Stussy: often combines hand-painted graffiti with washing process to strengthen the street art attribute;
Visvim: with the concept of “old is art”, the hand-painting process gives the clothing a museum-level texture.
Touches Dark: The Ultimate Practitioner of Washed Craftsmanship
As the most professional vintage streetwear manufacturer, Touches Dark has always regarded the washing process as the soul. Not only are we proficient in the four core techniques of Stone Wash, Snow Washed, Hand Drawing and Sun Dried, but we also use the 5KG top break test as a benchmark for quality - every washed product has to pass a high intensity durability test to ensure that the effect of aging is perfectly balanced with the strength of the fabric. Each washed product has to pass the high intensity durability test to ensure the perfect balance between the aged effect and fabric strength.
In today's fast-fashion world, Touches Dark insists on using time to polish its craftsmanship, so that each piece of vintage streetwear becomes a work of art that carries a story and attitude. Washed and aged is not only a style statement, but also a tribute to the classics.
Hot Selling Products
Whether you are out shopping, exercising or attending a party, this T-shirt will make you the center of attention.
Whether you are out shopping, exercising or attending a party, this T-shirt will make you the center of attention.
Whether it is a daily trip or a party event, it will make you stand out from the crowd. Support OEM & ODM & Private Label Service
Blue washed Hoodies with misty texture, skull appliqué embroidery on the hood and sleeves, oversized fit, casual and fun.
Partially Washed Aged Vintage Street Hoodie | Sun Dried & Slurry Coating Oversized Hooded Sweatshirt
Vintage green hoodies with a contrasting color-blocked wash finish in the center and a flame monogram print on the front chest.