délavage

English translation: stonewashed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	délavage
English translation:	stonewashed
Entered by:	Sheila Wilson

10:23 Dec 22, 2015

French to English translations [PRO]
Textiles / Clothing / Fashion

French term or phrase: délavage

I am translating a clothing catalogue and have numerous examples of 'délavage'. I'm torn between 'faded' or 'stonewashed'. Originally I put stonewashed, but then I see here that French also uses 'stonewash' or 'délavage stone', so I'm beginning to doubt myself. I won't post the exact company website here in case the client wouldn't like that, but you can see many examples in google images. I think the difference is that 'faded' is a uniform faded colour whereas 'stonewashed' has some patches/areas of denim that are lighter than others (this shirt fits into lighter category, although is faded overall too). Am I right?

"Chemise en jean femme, bleu ciel, délavage, 2 poches boutonnées poitrine, manches longues."

Imogen Hancock KudoZ activity Questions: 544 (1 open) (19 closed without grading) Answers: 0 United Kingdom
Local time: 21:54

stonewashed

Explanation:
I would personally go with your first choice. I think the various terms in French simply reflect the writers' familiarity with, or inclination to use, the Anglicism. Often in marketing the EN term is used, but there's rarely the consistency that applies in English.

Selected response from:

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:54

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

stonewashed

Sheila Wilson

4 +1

light/medium/dark wash

Lisa Jane

distressed

B D Finch

vintage wash

cranium

Answers

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

stonewashed

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:54
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 16

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

3 hrs confidence:

vintage wash

Explanation:
As I remember them (it's been a while) stonewashed jeans were fairly evenly "dappled" all over. "Vintage wash" refers to those strips of worn colour meant to make the jeans look "lived in".

Reference: http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-vintage-wash-jeans?origin...

cranium
Native speaker of:

English

21 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

light/medium/dark wash

Explanation:
according to the colour tone...

This is the usual term to describe the colour of denim regarding how light or dark it is. Stonewashed to my mind is usually mottled but a light wash denim is just a lighter blue with an overall evenly faded tone.

See pictures and links

Reference: http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/women/clothing/shirts/shirts/lig...
https://www.missyempire.com/amaya-light-wash-denim-jacket

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 22:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

4 hrs confidence:

distressed

Explanation:
Stonewashing is only one of the techniques used in délavage. Distressed is the equivalent English word that also applies to all of the various techniques for making fabric look worn and weathered.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stonewashed
" Full Definition of stonewashed
: subjected to a washing process during manufacture that includes the use of abrasive stones especially to create a softer fabric [stonewashed denim jeans]"

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=distressedTop Definition. distressed. Clothing that is ripped/made dirty during the manufacturing process, which for some reason makes it more desirable and expensive ...

fashion-history.lovetoknow.com › ... › Fabrics and FibersIncludes: • Modern distressed fabrics • Popular jeans styles • Theatrical distressing • Bibliography. ... Distressing refers to a surface treatment of fabric that makes the material appear faded or wrinkled, as if from ...

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Note added at 4 hrs (2015-12-22 15:12:56 GMT)
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"C’est dans les années soixante-dix qu’apparaît la première technique de délavage. L’entreprise Marithé + François Girbaud désirait rendre la toile denim brute (qui n’a subi aucun traitement), alors très rigide, plus souple. C’est en lavant les jeans avec des pierres ponces (des pierres volcaniques très poreuses et légères) qu’ils découvrirent que non seulement le tissu devenait plus léger, mais en plus, il prenait un aspect délavé, usé et vieilli. Les pierres semblaient gommer la couleur indigo. Cette technique prit le nom de « Stone wash ». Les effets de délavages varient selon la température et la quantité d’eau, la taille des pierres et leurs nombres, ainsi que la durée du lavage. Un dérivé de cette technique, appelé « Stone bleach », mélange pierres ponces et enzymes de blanchiment, ce qui donne aux jeans une teinte très claire.

Des techniques aujourd’hui controversées

Les délavages à base d’agents de blanchiment, tel que le chlore et le permanganate de potassium, sont regroupés autour du terme générique « Bleach ». L’effet délavé de la toile se matérialise parfois par des tâches blanches sur le denim (comme si le jeans avait été décoloré par de l’eau de javel), voire jaune, ce qui peut déplaire à certains puristes.

La technique du brossage, ou « Brush », quand à elle, se fait à l’aide de papier de verre abrasif appliqué généralement manuellement sur la toile. Cela donne un effet usé naturel au niveau des cuisses et des fesses du jeans.

Le « Sandblasting » est une méthode de sablage : le sable est projeté sur la toile de jeans pour la vieillir. Elle a été interdite suite à la sensibilisation de l'opinion par des organisations de travailleurs du textile car elle provoque la silicose (maladie due aux poussières fines du sable qui engendrent des problèmes respiratoires graves) chez les ouvriers. Les associations de défense de ces travailleurs estiment entre huit et dix mille le nombre de victimes."

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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2015-12-23 12:22:45 GMT)
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http://www.textileglossary.com/terms/distressed.html
"What is "Distressed" - Definition & Explanation
...
Describes a finish that disturbs the surface of the fabric, giving it a used, beaten, or uneven appearance. Often done through sand or stone washing after the fabric has been pigment dyed."

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Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2015-12-23 12:29:44 GMT)
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http://cltad-web.arts.ac.uk/trog/finishing/finishing-definit...
"Distressed
Describes fabric that has been deliberately aged in appearance by a finishing process, eg. bleaching, stone-washing."

Reference: http://www.jeansdenim.fr/definition-techniques-de-delavage-d...

B D Finch
France
Local time: 22:54
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 112

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English translation: stonewashed

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