FIBRE ETCHING: Fibre etching (or Devore )  is done using a fibre removing gel that removes plant fibres (like cotton, linen, rayon and paper).  It can be used on fabric blends, paper and wood; works best on fabric blends with: cellulose + non cellulose. The chemical works eats away cellulosic fibre (plant fiber), leaving the non cellulose areas intact on the fabric.

MATERIALS:

Screen with design ready for silkscreen use
Squeegee
Velvet (80% rayon, 20% silk)
Fibre remover

HOW: 

 thermochromic ink painted onto the velvet bumps left behind by the fibre etch process.

 

BLEACHING: it strips off the colour of the fabric to achieve the original colour or the raw colour of the textile.

MATERIALS: 

• Dark colour fabrics
• Bleach
• Mask, gloves & googles
• Spray bottle or brush
• Optional: rubber band, tapes etc.

HOW: 

APPLICATIONS: 

FIBER ETCH: scarfs, curtains, bedsheets, cut out lace 

BLEACHING: patterned fabrics for all sorts of uses, blankets, clothing etc. Jeans

 

REFLECTION: etching process continues on until fabric cellulose is eaten up, which means the textile is continuously changing and the initially etched design will be destroyed/lost. It is quite a pity if a design you like gets morphed. Bleaching process is also uncontrollable and if a applied on a large fabric for a certain desired pattern, process has to be done quickly since the longer bleach is left on material, the lighter the colour it will leave and the overall colour of the huge pattern will be inconsistent unless its desired in the design.

The reverse of bleaching is dyeing- adding colour to plain light coloured fabrics. Some examples below