Why has the "sanforized" label disappeared?

[Overlymanlystyle]

Hi everyone!

I had a quick question concerning the Sanforized label. Apologies if it has already been answered, but I searched and didn't find anything close to what I'm looking for, so here it is.

How come we don't see the Sanforized label anywhere anymore?
I'm assuming the reasons could be as follows:

• Sanforized cotton is not as comfortable as unsanforized cotton (I read it somewhere).
• The process is too expansive in a world where everything has to be made right away at low costs.
• Since the 30s, better processes have been discovered (I would go for this one).
• People don't really care about quality anymore, knowing that they can get new (shitty) pieces easily.

One thing: I'm from Europe and based in Japan, never been to the US, so apologies if the label still exists over there.

This is what I'm guessing, but I would love to hear what the connoisseurs have to say about this!

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There's probably some time limitation on when you need to state on a label that a product has been treated in a patented way (essentially free marketing for the patent holder). Since the Sanforising process was invented in 1930, I suspect that time limitation has passed. It is essentially just pre-shrinking.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

sanforized what is
http://www.rawrdenim.com/dictionary/s/sanforization/
it's being used just is not promoted. Now its "no iron" and "wrinkle free".

 

[Overlymanlystyle]

Thanks for the insight Baron Kurtz.

Weird though, but have a look at this: http://info.fabrics.net/sanforized-fabrics-best-friend/

It says: "When Sanford died in 1968, Sanforized was licensed for manufacture by 448 mills in 58 countries. Today the trademarks Sanfor [Europe], Sanforizado [Latin America] and Sanforized [rest of the world] are registered in more than 100 countries worldwide for cotton and cotton blend fabrics. The Sanforized Division of Cluett Peabody International owns sole rights to the process. Sanforizing process in a nutshell Sanforized means that fabrics which carry the famous Sanforized label are tested according to the severe test methods required by the Sanforized Company."

Yes, it's 40 years ago, but when you see that there is also an active website about sanforization here: http://www.sanforized.biz/e_labeling.htm

I'm thinking that sanforization became one process among others, and if we don't see it that much anymore, that would mean that the other processes are... better?
If so, what process is preferred nowadays? And why?

 

[Overlymanlystyle]

Oh OK I posted my reply right after yours The Wiser Hatter.

Thanks, that's very good to know.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Perhaps today's synthetics and synthetic blends do not need to be sanforized because they do not shrink in the wash like pure cotton.