AGI Denim launches innovative chip-off dyeing

Artistic Garment Industries (AGI Denim) has unveiled a new denim shade called Ceramic Blue, developed through its proprietary Chip-off Technology. This yarn-dyeing process enhances denim’s natural fading pattern, creating a more dramatic contrast between the worn and untouched areas of the fabric.

The technique mirrors a well-known effect in denim called chip-off character. Henry Wong, AGI’s Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, explained that these high-friction spots reveal lighter shades underneath as they wear down, creating strong visual contrast and the iconic look of aged denim.

AGI’s new method taps into the nature of indigo as a “fugitive dye,” which means it fades over time, especially on elevated surfaces. The Chip-off process exaggerates this tendency, delivering a controlled, directional fade with sharper definition.

A standout feature of Ceramic Blue is its strong ring dye appearance. This effect shows a distinct difference between the dyed outer layer and the white cotton core, giving the denim a vintage look. AGI highlights that this is achieved using less dye and fewer resources than traditional methods.

Though AGI is still verifying the environmental impact through data, internal wash tests already show that Ceramic Blue offers significantly improved chip-off results over conventional dyeing. Wong noted that this opens possibilities to start with less dye and reduce the time spent on abrasive finishing processes—while still producing a rich, aged appearance.