Garment Treatments Glossary

Bleaching

A chemical process used to remove natural colour, stains, and impurities from fibres and fabrics to create a cleaner white base before dyeing or printing.

Dyeing

A process where colour is added to fibres, yarns, or fabrics using chemical dyes. Different dye types are used depending on the fibre composition.

Optical Brightening

A chemical treatment using fluorescent whitening agents to make fabrics appear brighter and whiter by reflecting more visible light.

Pigment Printing

A printing process where insoluble colour pigments are applied to fabric using chemical binders to hold the colour in place.

Screen Printing

A method of applying colour or patterns to fabric by pressing ink or dye through a mesh screen stencil. Each colour in the design typically requires a separate screen.

Discharge Printing

A printing technique that uses bleaching or reducing agents to remove dye from specific areas of a pre-dyed fabric, creating patterns through decolouration rather than colour addition.

Stone Washing

A garment treatment originally using pumice stones and often combined with enzymes or chemicals to create a faded, softened, worn appearance on fabric, particularly denim.

Acid Washing

A garment treatment that uses chemical solutions, typically hypochlorite bleach, to create a mottled, bleached, or faded effect on fabric. Most commonly applied to denim and often combined with stone washing.

Enzyme Wash

A biological treatment using enzymes to soften fabrics, remove surface fibres, improve texture, and create effects such as a worn-in or stone-washed appearance.

Waterproofing Treatment

A chemical coating or membrane application that prevents water from passing through fabric, used in rainwear and technical apparel.

Water Repellent Finish

A chemical treatment that causes water to bead and roll off fabric surfaces. Commonly used in outdoor clothing and jackets.

Durable Water Repellent

A chemical surface treatment, most commonly using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), applied to the outer layer of fabric to cause water to bead and roll off. Widely used in outdoor and performance clothing, PFAS-based DWR formulations are persistent environmental pollutants that accumulate in ecosystems and human bodies.

Coating

The application of a chemical layer onto fabric to add properties such as waterproofing, wind resistance, durability, shine, or protection.

Flame Retardant Treatment

A chemical treatment that reduces the ability of textiles to ignite or spread fire. Used in protective clothing, uniforms, and specialised textiles.

Anti Microbial Treatment

A chemical treatment applied to textiles to reduce or prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and odour-causing microbes. Commonly used in activewear, socks, underwear, and medical textiles.

Deodorising Finish

A treatment designed to reduce or neutralise unpleasant odours in textiles, often used in sportswear and performance fabrics.

Moisture Wicking Finish

A chemical or fibre-based treatment that helps move moisture away from the skin. Common in activewear and performance clothing.

Anti Static Finish

A chemical finish that reduces static electricity buildup in fabrics. Often applied to synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic.

Uv Protection Finish

A treatment that improves a fabric's ability to block ultraviolet radiation. Often used in outdoor clothing and sportswear.

Nano Treatment

The application of nanoparticles or nano-scale coatings to textiles to add properties such as water resistance, stain resistance, UV protection, or antimicrobial effects.

Plasma Treatment

A surface modification process using ionised gas to alter fabric properties such as dye absorption, adhesion, water resistance, or softness without heavy chemical use.

Softening Finish

A chemical treatment applied to fabrics to improve softness, flexibility, and hand feel.

Silicone Finish

A treatment using silicone-based chemicals to improve softness, smoothness, water resistance, and fabric handle.

Resin Finish

A chemical finishing process where resins are applied to improve wrinkle resistance, stiffness, smoothness, or durability.

Wrinkle Resistant Finish

A chemical treatment, often resin-based, that helps fabrics resist creasing and maintain a smoother appearance after washing and wear.

Cross Linking Finish

A chemical treatment that creates bonds between fibre molecules to improve properties such as wrinkle resistance, durability, and dimensional stability.

Formaldehyde Finish

A chemical treatment using formaldehyde-based resins to produce wrinkle-resistant, crease-free, and easy-care properties in cotton and blended fabrics. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and its use in textiles is regulated in many countries.

Anti Pilling Finish

A treatment applied to fibres or fabrics to reduce the formation of small fibre balls (pills) caused by friction. Often used on knitwear, fleece, and synthetic fabrics.

Anti Shrink Treatment

A chemical or mechanical finishing process that reduces fabric shrinkage during washing. Commonly used for cotton, wool, and blended fabrics.

Scouring

A cleaning process that removes natural oils, waxes, dirt, and processing chemicals from fibres before dyeing or finishing.

Desizing

A preparation process that removes sizing chemicals applied during weaving to improve fabric absorbency before dyeing or finishing.

Mercerisation

A chemical treatment where cotton is treated with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to improve strength, shine, dye absorption, and softness.

Carbonisation

A chemical treatment used mainly on wool to remove vegetable matter such as plant fibres and impurities.

Singeing

A preparation process where fabric is passed rapidly over a flame or heated plates to burn off protruding surface fibres, creating a smoother, cleaner surface for dyeing and printing.

Cationic Treatment

A chemical modification process that changes the surface charge of fibres to improve dye absorption, softness, or compatibility with other materials.

Heat Setting

A thermal treatment used mainly on synthetic fibres to stabilise fabric shape, reduce shrinkage, and improve dimensional stability.

Pre Shrinking

A mechanical or chemical treatment applied before garment construction to minimise future shrinkage during washing and use.

Sanforisation

A mechanical and chemical shrinking control process used mainly on cotton fabrics to limit residual shrinkage after washing.

Calendering

A mechanical finishing process where fabric is passed through heated rollers under high pressure to create a smooth, flat surface, improve lustre, or imprint embossed patterns.

Solvent Cleaning

A cleaning process using chemical solvents instead of water to remove oils, stains, or residues from textiles.