Sculptured and etched textile having shade contrast corresponding to surface etched regions

A chemically etched knitted or woven textile comprising:

• (a) a first region, said first region having a pile of first yarns providing a first height, said first region further providing a first color shade;
• and
• (b) an eroded second region, said eroded second region comprising a pile of second yarns having a second height which has been eroded by a chemical etching composition, said eroded second region providing a second color shade;
• (c) wherein said first color shade and said second color shade differ in L* color shade value by at least about 20 percent.

A screen printed textile comprising:

• (a) a first region, said first region having a pile of first yarns, said first yarns providing a pile having a first height, said first region further providing a first color shade;
• (b) an eroded second region, said eroded second region comprising a pile of second yarns having a second height, said second yarns being degradable by a chemical etching composition, said second height being less than said first height, said eroded second region providing a second color shade;
• and
• (c) wherein said first color shade and said second color shade differ in color shade value by at least about 25 percent.

A method of making a woven or knitted fabric having corresponding color contrast and surface geometry contrast between first regions and second regions in the fabric, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a fabric, said fabric having yarns forming a pile, said first pile having a first pile height, said fabric having first regions and second regions;
• (b) providing dye in an unfixed state into said yarns of said fabric;
• (c) etching said fabric upon said pile in a predetermined pattern by applying to said pile of said second regions a yarn-degrading composition, said yarn-degrading composition being effective to degrade yarns in said second regions, thereby forming in said second regions yarns having a second pile height;
• (d) fixing said dye in said first and second regions;
• (e) forming a fabric having first regions of a first pile height and second regions of a second pile height, said second pile height being less than said first pile height;
• and
• (f) generating a substantial color contrast which provides a predetermined positive ΔL* value differential between said first regions and said second regions.

A method of making a fabric by chemically etching fibers of the fabric, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a fabric having a first side, said first side having a pile, said pile comprising a plurality of yarns having a first height, said plurality of yarns forming a first plane in said fabric;
• (b) applying to said first side of said fabric a solution containing an unfixed dye;
• (c) applying a mask to said first side of said fabric;
• (d) selectively covering with said mask predetermined portions of said fabric, said covered portions of said fabric comprising first regions, said uncovered portions of said fabric comprising second regions;
• wherein said first regions further comprise first yarns having unfixed dye applied thereon, said second regions further comprising second yarns having unfixed dye applied thereon;
• (e) applying a chemical etching agent to said second regions of said fabric,
• (f) chemically reacting said etching agent said second yarns of said second regions, thereby shortening by chemical degradation at least a portion of said second yarns in said second regions to a second height which is less than said first height;
• (g) removing unfixed dye in said second yarns of said second regions of said fabric;
• (h) heating said fabric to fix said unfixed dye in said first and second regions of said fabric;
• and
• (i) thereby forming a fabric having second regions which exhibit a different pile height and a different color intensity as compared to said first regions.

A screen printed textile comprising:

• (a) a first region, said first region having a pile of first yarns, said first yarns providing a pile having a first height, said first region further providing a first color shade;
• and
• (b) an eroded second region, said eroded second region comprising a pile of second yarns having a second height, said second yarns being degradable by a chemical etching composition, said second height being less than said first height, said eroded second region providing a second color shade;
• (c) an eroded third region, said eroded third region comprising a pile of third yarns having a third height, said third yarns being degradable by a chemical etching composition, said third height being less in value than the respective height of said first and second regions;
• (d) wherein said first color shade and said second color shade differ in L* value;
• and
• (e) wherein said second color shade and said third color shade differ in L* value.