Compositions and methods that introduce variations in color density into cellulosic fabrics, particularly indigo dyed denim

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The stone free "stone washed" methods of the invention involve contacting clothing items or denim fabric with an aqueous solution containing a cellulase enzyme composition and agitating the treated fabric for a sufficient period of time to produce localized variations in color density in the fabric.
The fabric items can be wet by the solution and agitated apart from the bulk aqueous liquors or can be agitated in the liquor.
Typically the aqueous solution contains the cellulase enzyme and a cellulase compatible surfactant that increases the wetting properties of the aqueous solution to enhance the cellulase effect.
The aqueous treatment solutions are typically prepared from a liquid or solid concentrate composition which can be diluted with water at appropriate dilution ratios to formulate the aqueous treatment.
The "stone wash concentrate" compositions typically contain the cellulase enzyme and a diluent such as a compatible surfactant, a non-aqueous solvent or a solid-forming agent that can produce in a treatment liquor a suspension of the cellulose enzyme without significant enzyme activity loss.
The solid concentrate compositions typically comprise a suspension of the cellulase enzyme composition in a solid matrix.
The solid matrices can be inorganic or organic in nature.
The solid concentrates can take the form of large masses of solid concentrate or can take the form of granular or pelletized composition.
The solid concentrates can be used in commercial processes by placing the solid concentrate materials in dispensers that can direct a dissolving spray of water onto the solid or pellet material thereby creating a concentrated solution of the material in water which is then directed by the dispenser into the wash liquors contained in the commercial drum machines.
Cellulase Enzyme Enzymes are a group of proteins which catalyze a variety of typically biochemical reactions.
Enzyme preparations have been obtained from natural sources and have been adapted for a variety of chemical applications