Washing is where a pair of jeans gets its final character: the fades, the softness, the vintage look. It is also one of the most water- and chemical-intensive steps in denim. In January 2018, Azgard9 shared two films from its garment washing unit on its YouTube channel, "Cloud Washing eco Washing" and "First of its kind in a Pakistani Denim Unit", showing a new way of doing that work.
Cloud washing replaces much of the bath of water used in conventional washing with a fine spray. Chemicals such as enzymes, resins and softeners are applied as a mist inside the machine, so the garment gets only what it needs. Azgard9's later CSR reporting describes the B Cloud machine in its green laundry as saving up to 90 percent of water and using 70 percent less chemical, with special nozzles, adjustable spray levels and no contamination of the work area.
Cloud washing is one part of a wider set of low-impact finishing technologies at Azgard9. The same laundry uses laser machines for waterless, chemical-free effects such as whiskers, scraping and rips; ozone machines that bleach denim in about 15 minutes instead of 30 to 45 minutes; and Rain Forest washers that run at a liquor ratio of 1 to 2.5, saving around 30 percent of water and 25 percent of chemicals and energy.
Key facts
- Films"Cloud Washing eco Washing" and "First of its kind in a Pakistani Denim Unit", Azgard9 YouTube, January 2018
- Cloud machineup to 90% water saving and 70% less chemical (CSR Report 2022)
- Ozone bleachingabout 15 minutes, against 30 to 45 minutes conventionally
- Rain Forest washersliquor ratio 1–2.5; about 30% less water, 25% less chemical and energy
- Laser finishingwaterless and chemical-free
Finishing jeans with less water and fewer chemicals is a practical way Azgard9 helps its brand partners meet their own responsible-denim goals.
