The Transition Process from Pumice to Handmade Stones for Unparalleled Results!

HMS-the new Pumice Replacement

It was needed. It is here.
The mining, transportation and milling issues of pumice stone will no longer be bothersome.
Since HMS has come, Denim Stone Wash has been made more efficient.

This paradigm shift

Saves time
Saves water
No need for additional rinsing cycles
Streamlined factory logistics.
➡️Less transportation to and in the factory
*SAVES YOUR COST.

Do a detailed cost-benefit analysis yourself!

Look at the Profitability pointers of HMS
Denim Mills will do well to switch to HMS, from Pumice Stone, because of the washing and storing benefits of HMS.
Beautiful fades emerge from the HMS Stonewash without decreasing the strength of the fabric.

The washing benefits of HMS are

1 MT of HMS washes 70K to 72K garments.
HMS gives better effects in less time than pumice.
HMS is a complete product. No other added chemicals are needed to get the intended abrasive effect on the indigo dye.
Experts have studied the comparative exponential distribution of HMS- usage and pumice stone- usage with wash cycles and have concluded the time-saving prospects of HMS to be more significant.

The water saving/ Heat saving by HMS

HMS requires 20% less water per load since it does not soak up water.
HMS does not require rinsing after Stonewash because it does not leave dust on the garments.
With HMS, 400 Liters of water is needed per wash, whereas with pumice, 600 Liters per wash.
HMS requires only cold water for Stonewash. Pumice needs 94.2 kWh per wash for heating. In the case of HMS, no heating is required

The reuse principle of HMS

While pumice stone gets dumped with the patchy indigo and the sludge sticking to it, after just 1 or 2 baths, HMS can be used up to 70 to 100 times.
This also saves the fabric cost, as the buying, dyeing and weaving of yarn are also costly.

The storage, shipping and transportation advantages of HMS.

Pumice has around 1.2 times more volume than HMS due to different densities. It needs more storage space in the manufacturing unit.

Take a look at this flow chart.

HMS is Work- simplification, a boon to the working assistants

For
They don’t have to carry heavy bags of pumice stone to be loaded into the washing machines in the production facility.
They no longer have to make the strenuous and wasteful effort of removing the Pumice dust sticking to the twill cloth after washing and drying.
Washing machines are buoyant and cleaner after the bath.
They last longer, as they do not have to undergo the constant rough and tumble of the rocky pumice stone, which reduces their life span.
The working assistants are relieved from removing the residue of pumice left in the washing machines
HMS provides a work-simplification model sought after in all industrial schools for staff welfare.

Customization

HMS is available in different sizes, as it can be made to order. It is readily customizable for other fabrics and various processes of Stonewash. As popular Brands are created by the quality and texture of jean cloth, customer demands, from inland and overseas, are the motto to be followed in its valid letter and spirit.

Environmental Impact on Production Facility

Look at the favourable EIM score of HMS. The EIM SCORE( the environmental impact score ) of pumice stone will increase by 3 points while HMS will decrease it by ZERO (0) POINTS.
HMS is made up of recycled pumice dust and biodegradable components.

The composition of HMS itself is eco-friendly. The MSDS, TDS, and ZDHC reports will vouch for it.
In a 60-min process, 12-16 grams of HMS is reduced per garment.
It does not leave a massive residue in washing machines like pumice stone.
Dust does not accumulate on fabric, as with Pumice stone. Therefore the washing assistants do not have to be victims of dust pollution.
Some of the Pumice does not remove the stubborn indigo. Those clothes are discarded as textile scrap, which is another ecological sludge.

Environmental impact on the larger Community.

The supplies of pumice stone are undertaken in large volumes as it needs to be replenished at frequent intervals to meet the enormous demand.
Pumice stones are transported in large trucks, with their carbon emissions scarring the skies and corrupting human lungs.
HMS is a lifesaver since it is durable and does not require frequent replenishment in the supply chain.

Saying No to Pumice Stone

Pumice stone is widely prevalent today and is damaging the environment with dust and pollution due to its transportation by heavy trucks to far-off destinations.
We will see why by noting with alacrity the shortfalls of pumice stone, which is used for stone washing today, in all laundering units and Denim manufacturing factories.
It is a rock. It is not soluble in water. Even after the wash and rinsing, pumice residue stays behind in the Washing machines.
Some of its dust clings to the dyed and dried cloth too. Before packing them into bales, all that has to be painstakingly removed.
The rate at which HMS gets smaller is 50 times slower than the pumice stone. It is more stable. The replenishing rate is significantly less.
HMS is thus more durable than pumice stones

A quick look at the process of Stonewash

As all launderers are aware, Denim is made from cotton and twill. Which means it is woven with multiple weft passes for each warp pass. This process creates the diagonal weave that is part of the iconic appearance of denim jeans from any Brand, and It is called raw Denim after it is dyed and woven. But mostly, it is sold only after a Stonewash, which makes the cloth flexible and wearable. After it is washed, tailoring takes over to make it into jeans.

How does it do the Stonewash?

The process of stone washing began towards the end of the 1970s,
The denim/ cloth and the required quantity of pumice stones are put into the rotating washing machines. The washing drum rotates as a roller, so the garments are repeatedly pounded and beaten by the stones, and their abrasive impact upon the fibres releases the indigo color on the denim fabric to a great extent. Thereby comes the desired faded and tired look.
Stonewash was envisaged as a stylish cloth finish because designers wanted a half-dyed look. And wearers liked to see discoloration on the knee- portion and hip- portion of their jeans as a fashion statement.

Why the Modern Jean needs Pumice Stone.

It is colorless and porous. Hence its pliability towards abrasion.
Its advantages were its proverbial low cost and the abrasive impact of its porous structure.
For cost-effectiveness from ease and efficiency of operations, pumice stone needs to be replaced by HMS.

Non-sustainability of Pumice stones’ supply.

Pumice Stone is from the quarries. Mining is done on this fragile natural resource fast approaching its D-day. For how long?
So, this resource is not a futuristic or sustainable option at all. Supplies will be depleted in a few decades. It has to be imported from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Iceland, Italy, Turkey and Russia. It stemmed out of volcanic eruptions. So, it is restricted to a few geographical areas only. It is a dwindling resource. The mines cannot produce enough to meet the massive demand in the long run.

Refer to Pumice Data Sheets, Mineral Commodity Summaries, by the American Geological Survey,2020

With HMS, the transition is from Stonewash to Sludge-free and eco-friendly wash.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said the old order changeth, yielding place to new.
HMS is an excellent betterment for the wearer of Denim, the designer, the Denim Foundries and the Earth.