Stonewashing is the denim treatment that uses pumice stones to create a worn-in appearance.
In stonewashing, denim garments are washed with abrasive stones so the fabric loses some of its surface dye and develops a softer hand and faded contrasts. The process imitates the appearance of jeans worn over a long period.
Stonewashed jeans became especially prominent in late twentieth-century fashion, when deliberately faded denim moved from workwear into everyday casual clothing.
Stonewashing is different from chemical bleaching. Bleaching lightens fabric through chemicals, while traditional stonewashing relies on mechanical abrasion from stones. Modern manufacturers may also use enzymes or other technologies to reduce water, energy, and stone consumption.