Pre-Shrinking & Sanforizing
Pre-shrinking is about taking most of the fabric’s natural shrink out before it reaches you, so the first wash doesn’t completely change how the garment fits.
WHY FABRIC SHRINKS
Most cotton-heavy fabrics are under tension when they’re woven, finished and rolled. When you wash and dry them, the fibres relax and pull back, which shows up as shrinkage in length, width, or both.
Without any control, that first wash can change the garment by several centimetres. That’s not acceptable on structured pieces like shirts or trousers.
HOW PRE-SHRINKING WORKS
- Fabric is exposed to moisture, heat and mechanical pressure in a controlled process.
- Tension is reduced while the fabric is held to a target width and length.
- For some fabrics this includes Sanforizing – a more formal, machine-controlled version.
- The goal is to keep residual shrinkage inside a small, predictable band.
HOW WE USE IT AT SVASTI
Pre-shrinking is focused on structured garments: shirts, future trousers, and any fabric where even a small shift would noticeably change how it sits on the body.
We track how much shrink happens after multiple washes and use that data when deciding pattern measurements and size grading.
Will the garment still shrink at home?
Some minor movement is normal, especially with hot water or high-heat dryers. The aim is to avoid big surprises – your shirt or trousers should stay within a tight band around the size you bought.
At a glance
| Used on | Structured shirts, future trousers and denim-style fabrics |
| Main effect | Reduced first-wash shrinkage and more stable measurements over time |
| Pairs with | Enzyme washing, anti-pilling work, colorfast treatment |
| Best for | People who care about consistent fits across multiple washes |