Fading/Distressing Clothing?

[Creature Fanatic]

Hey everyone,

I have this Jacket here

and I'd like to soften the material and fade/weather it to look like this

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a122/198...ennonshrine.jpg

How do i go about fading this jacket and weakening the material to look broken in? I'd just like this to look like a jacket that has been used in combat, yet is still durable to be worn everyday and possibly washable.

Thanks for any help you have,
Agent Joey Bravo

 

[Brien]

I am basing it on my own experience with uniforms wearing out. Wash it repeatedly in really hot water. It will fade the color and soften the fabric. You might try a little bleach but it is a great way of messing it up.

As far as worn seams you could take a really fine grit sandpaper to the seams and points on the jacket which would see more wear. I use that to make vinyl look like old worn leather.

 

[Creature Fanatic]

that sounds fair. I was worried about bleach myself. thank you man. I'll do the warm water trick. Anyone else have some ideas for me to try as well?
Thanks again

 

[Darth Mule]

You can beat it up in the wash by adding a cup of rock salt. The heavy grains will help beat up the fabric. Hot water will also help to fade it. Bleach I'd stay away from.

Note: Must be Rock salt, regular salt won't o anything.

 

[Funky]

I spoke to a Levi's production manager years ago and he told me to use a hot dryer. He said that is a piece of clothing's worst enemy: heat and being thrown around. It came up in a discussion on preserving jeans and making the high dollar ones last as long as possible. In your case, hot water and lots of hot drying.

 

[Shadow Duchess]

I would tend to agree with the bleach and fine grit sandpaper idea that a few have expressed here.
If you had time and patience I would almost say a stone or sandwashing in a washtub not a machine with constant stirring may give you a good effect but, you do run the risk of not having control over the outcome as much.
I'm sure there are a lot of people with more great ideas here, good luck with the weathering.

 

[defyitall]

You can do a bleach bath in a large pastic tub to have better control over the bleach concentration and "wash" time. Do like a 10% bleach solution in a large plastic bin or something. Then you can soak the shirt and check the progress. Just have another bin full of fresh water or a hose or sink around to rinse it once done.

 

[Stampedemag]

I posted a reply on FX lab. Those jackets are made very well and hard to ruin

 

[NikNak_aka]

I would stay away from bleach personaly. Honestly its pretty eash to weather jackets such as that. As stated previously Washing it in hot water and drying it on high heat will work pretty darn fast. The rock salt is an interesting idea that sounds pretty good.

 

[Ramiel]

This link could be useful...
http://www.toddscostumes.com/indy/how_to_d...an_army_bag.htm

 

[Stampedemag]

I wonder if it would work to get some rocks and put them in the dryer along with it. I would try it on a dryer that you just have lying around and not the good one... lol I can see my wife's face now...

It might cut the fabric so I am not sure but it would defiantely make it worn.

 

[Darth Mule]

Lest I forget. When you dry it in the dryer. Use hi-heat and throw a pair of tennis shoes in there with it. The shoes will beat up the jacket in the dryer and they're soft enonot to break anything. Like the rocks will at the very least chip the porcelain paint off the insided of you dryer.

As far as the bleach is concerned. A teaspoonful in the wash won't hurt anything. Might do what you want. Again, with the rock salt.