Who invented the Sanforization process that made cotton denim less likely to shrink?

Sanford Cluett invented Sanforization, a process that makes cotton denim less likely to shrink.

Cluett patented the process in 1930. Sanforization mechanically compresses woven cotton fabric before it is sold or made into garments. The treatment reduces later shrinkage when the finished clothing is washed.

The invention addressed a major problem with cotton workwear. Unsanforized denim can shrink substantially, especially during its first wash, changing a garment’s measurements and fit. Sanforized fabric gave manufacturers and customers more predictable sizing.

Sanforization is a finishing process, not a type of weave or a dye. It is also different from stonewashing, which creates a worn appearance, and from rinsing, which removes some surface starch and loose dye. Many modern jeans use pre-shrunk denim, although some enthusiasts deliberately buy unsanforized jeans for their distinctive shrink-to-fit behavior.