Levi Strauss & Co.

Debra Laney

Kris Tulin

Issa Bielefeldt

A mist of water and air and ozone gas is used in the finishing of fabrics of jeans and other apparel to achieve a faded, worn, or washed appearance and finish. Jeans or other apparel items are processed in a chamber of a finishing machine. Water and air mist that includes drops of liquid water are sprayed into the chamber. Ozone is separately introduced into the chamber. After processing, the jeans or other apparel will have a stonewashed or acid-washed appearance.

Ozone mist fabric finishing

A body shaping fit system for pants is based on the concept of actively shaping the body's silhouette. This fit system includes: a stretch coating formulation for fabric that provides stretch in all directions (e.g., four way stretch) in an engineered way to target specific parts of the body, shape contouring panels, cosmetic finishing techniques, and seaming and construction techniques for pants. In a specific implementation, a pair of jeans includes a shape contouring panel incorporated onto an inside of the jeans, the panel including a polyurethane based coating with holding power to enhance the body's natural curves while de-emphasizing the body's flaws. The fit system is also applicable to pants, shorts, capris, and other clothing where shaping and support is desirable in the waist, seat, hip, and thigh areas.

Growing community of inventors

Tularosa, NM, United States of America

Debra Laney