Ageing (textiles)

Fabric hangs and runs over guide rollers as it is exposed to steam at a certain temperature and for a specific amount of time.

[3][5][1] Initially, colours were fixed through the action of sunlight, air, and dew, which evolved into ageing rooms and, more recently, rapid-aging systems (in the form of steam-cabinets).

[6] Stoving was the early name used to describe the process of ageing in wooden or brick chambers heated by a furnace beneath.

Stoving was first used to dry and age printed items, taking into account things like dye smearing and marking.

The required conditions are created in an ager machine fitted with controls that maintain a specified temperature on the fabric for a fixed time frame.