Textile Glossary · Process · Shrinkage Control
Sanforization
Sanforization is a patented mechanical pre-shrinking process that passes fabric through a rubber blanket under heat and moisture, compressing it to reduce residual shrinkage to less than 1%.
Understanding the Term
The gold standard in shrinkage control.
Invented by Sanford Cluett in 1930, Sanforization feeds fabric between a heated steel cylinder and a thick rubber blanket. As the blanket compresses, the fabric is mechanically compacted in the warp (length) direction, simulating the shrinkage that would occur during washing.
The process is purely mechanical — no chemicals are involved. The fabric emerges dimensionally stable, with residual shrinkage of less than 1% in the warp direction. This is significantly better than untreated fabric, which can shrink 5–8%.
Sanforization is widely used for woven fabrics (denim, shirting) and can also be applied to knits. For our knitted t-shirt fabric, we use a similar compressive shrinkage process optimised for jersey construction.
Why It Matters
How Sanforization protects garment dimensions.
The mechanical process that made sizing reliable.
01
Sub-1% Shrinkage
Sanforized fabric shrinks less than 1% after washing. This is the tightest tolerance in commercial textile processing.
02
No Chemical Treatment
The process is purely mechanical — compression between rollers. No resins, no formaldehyde, no chemical residue on the finished fabric.
03
Universal Standard
The 'Sanforized' label has been a consumer trust mark since the 1930s. It's one of the oldest and most respected quality certifications in textiles.
Our Standard
Compressive shrinkage at our facility.
Our knitted Supima fabric undergoes compressive shrinkage treatment equivalent to Sanforization, optimised for single jersey construction. The process ensures less than 3% residual shrinkage — the tightest practical tolerance for premium knit garments.
<3%
Residual Shrinkage
After compressive treatment at our Bhiwandi facility
Related Terms
Explore more textile terminology.
See how Supima compares:
Common Questions
Sanforization — your questions, answered.
Understanding mechanical pre-shrinking.
We use an equivalent compressive shrinkage process optimised for knits. True Sanforization is designed for woven fabrics. The principle is identical — mechanical compression to reduce shrinkage.
See It in Practice
Mechanically pre-shrunk.
Dimensionally stable.
Your size stays your size. That's the promise.
Free returns · 30 washes guaranteed · ₹1,299
Shop the T-Shirt →Available on Amazon India