Denim glossary: Washes and finishes

Indigo: Today, synthetic dyes give jeans this dark-blue hue, but in the ol' days, denim was dyed naturally with plant colours.

Raw denim: Denim that's been dyed but not washed during productions to ensure no fading or distressing occurs. It's often stiff at first but softens with wear.

Acid wash: Pumice stones are soaked in chlorine and the washed with denim for this bleach-induced effect.

Stonewash: After denim is dyed, it's washed with unbleached pumice stones. The longer the wash, the lighter and softer the colour becomes.