Stardust’s magic at work at Daily Blue
Introduced last November, Stardust is the latest innovative process developed by Italian chemicals supplier Soko. The all-in-one product is said to cover 80% of fading operations, from raw to vintage, in waterless conditions. It has been designed to eliminate the need for pumice stones, hypochlorite bleach, potassium wash (for soft acid wash), caustic soda, peroxide and detergents. This makes it possible to reduce the number of rinses and chemicals, delivering savings, and speeding up processing time as workers no longer need to load and unload washing machines, the company points out.
For the fall 2023 collection of his iconic label Daily Blue, Adriano Goldschmied used Soko’s Stardust for the finishing of the entire range. For Luca Braschi, at Soko, this confirms both the sustainability of Stardust and its ability to achieve premium denim looks. “This achievement is a real step toward reducing the impacts of denim processing, which is part of Daily Blue DNA’s as well,” he told Inside Denim.
Brands and retailers that seek to reduce water and chemicals usage are often faced with the need to compromise between sustainability and authenticity. Stardust, the company says, has no such limitations.
Stardust is an illustration of the new role ozone processing is taking in denim manufacturing. Soko has modified and optimised how ozone is used to obtain a wide array of effects. The company believes ozone merits more attention and its potential should not be underestimated. Making it a central and integral part of denim washing processes will also help justify investment in the machinery.
In addition to savings in water, chemicals and time, Soko says that Stardust processing puts less stress on fabrics, making them more durable, while achieving the strong abrasion and mid bleach fading of true vintage looks.
Finally, this new all-in-one solution is said to make fabrics laser-friendly for both indigo and sulphur black denims.
For more on Adriano Goldschmied’s vision of the industry and plans for Daily Blue, read our feature here.
Image: Daily Blue
