Sandblasting is a technique that gives denim a faded or worn aesthetic, removing pigmentation from the fabric by ‘blasting’ a stream of abrasive material (sand) against the garment. The process is associated with extreme health hazards for workers, most notably silicosis – a potentially fatal disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust particles found in natural sand.(1) With EU bans in place since 1966, Turkey banned sandblasting in 2009 after it was linked to the death of 50 workers. The practice has now shifted to yet unregulated regions in North Africa and South East Asia.(2)
SANDBLASTING
