A mullen trend_journal5

Trend update: Cutting edge denim distressing : The use of High Tech CO2 lasers

Aidenn Mullen / FASH 503 / Spring 2014 / Professor D. Greene

High Tech CO2 lasers are disrupting what Designers and Merchandisers know as the traditional dry finishing process of denim to appear worn.


How? Rather than wearing away at the surface of denim and causing potential quality issues,

CO2 lasers disrupt the dye molecules giving only the appearance of distressing or tonal printing.

-‐ opens the door for minimalistic branding

-‐ allows designer to control look via photoshop 7iles

-‐ can offer high end consumer one of a kind pieces

-‐ potential for customized goods increases

-‐ potential to lower garment processing costs attributing to high margins in premium denim markets.

Benefits for Industry Professionals

Industry Leaders : Laser Manufacturers


JK Lasers GbosGolden LaserMacsaJeanologiaGEK

Leading Denim Manufacturers

Advance Denim Base WealthBlack PeonyDeyaoSiddiqsons


Potential for Manufacturing Disruption : Trend or Innovation?

- increasing lead times in production- reducing costs of dry processing

CO2 lasers provides automated control over distressing looks- 6 billion pairs of jeans produced worldwide annually, many of them with dry processing to appear worn.- Today 20% of finishing process is happening with a laser - Dry processing is hazardous to production workers, causing silicosis- Antecedent is sandblasting process with silica, banned since 1960’s - Using a laser is a choice many large companies are making in order to be more environmentally sustainable.

“This system helps acquiring the worn-out look remarkably easier than with conventional sandblasting system,” Mürsel Önder, the company’s general manager, tells the Anatolia News Agency. “Therefore, it helped double our production capacity.”

Antecendent dry finishing process of sandblasting, whichis harmful for workers. High Tech Laser distressing in a controlled, customizable

fashion

http://www.hurriyetdai





Consumer Benefits

- potential to lower production costs which can impact margin and overall MSRP / retail pricing strategy

- ability to add micro and macro novelty details that were cost prohibitive in the past

- potential to unlock developing personalized denim goods

- reduces dry finishing damage to fabric an therefore increasing the overall durability of products.

- increases “vintage” looks that are in high demand in the denim market

- DIY laser technology is now emerging, allowing consumers a percentage of control over their denim wardrobe.


Garments Visualized with Laser Technology


Works cited:

http://machinedesign.com/news/lasers-key-hazardous-sand-blasted-jean-production

http://tribune.com.pk/story/686365/pakistan-makes-it-to-the-top-five-denim-manufacturers-in-asia/

http://texeducation.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/laser-engraving-of-denim/

http://www.ecouterre.com/turkish-denim-factory-sandblasts-jeans-with-laser-beams/

http://cottonuniversity.org/library/papers/cotton-picks-laser-denim/

Laser distressing and patterning barriers for the apparel industry:

- The average cost of machine $400k and for a third world manufacturer the investment has to be worth the profit

- The Laser “ look” may very well be related to trend despite it’s environmental positives

- Legal protection for Laser Patterning has yet to be addressed, counterfeit merchandise could easily be created.

Business

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