Denim finishing may be going digital, but a new concept by Rimaks brings form back into the equation.
The Turkish denim manufacturer teamed with Karachi, Pakistan-based SM Denim to launch BodyCast, a resin-based finish that’s applied to garments mounted on life-like mannequins. The purpose of this setup is to mirror the human lower body, allowing whiskers, thigh rolls, pocket bite, and honeycombs to form naturally.
The process celebrates how, for more than 150 years, denim has been defined by how it responds to the body—creasing at stress points, fading with friction, and developing character over time, Rimaks stated. Rather than finishing denim on a flat bench and relying on aggressive abrasion or artificial distressing, the process creates three-dimensional wear mapping that feels intuitive, lived-in, and personal to the wearer.
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This “new generation” resin is activated under lower temperatures and it does not contain formaldehyte. However, it is not more expensive than the resin treatment. Though it takes longer than the standard resin application, the process can be applied at scale.
“We cast denim on the body,” said Meir Barbut, Board Member at Rimaks. “BodyCast allows us to recreate the way denim truly wears—naturally, honestly, and with depth—while giving brands full control over the final expression.”
The result is a balance of whisker depth, comb intensity and subtle sheen that enhances texture without overpowering the fabric. Finishes can also be adjusted by fit, meaning the process can be applied to the wide variety of jeans in the market like tapered, straight, wide or barrel.
Additionally, Rimaks notes how BodyCast allows garments to “age gracefully.” By eliminating heavy abrasion, jeans are less lightly to breakdown prematurely.
Rimaks aims to take a lead in innovating denim wash and finishing techniques. Last summer, the company partnered with DNM Denim to introduce Nova, a four-step finishing platform that utilizes laser abrasion, ozone-enhanced bleaching, eco-stoning and advanced eco-chemistry.
Fabrics finished with BodyCast will be presented by SM Denim later this month at Denim & Jeans Egypy and Kingpins New York. The fabrics are part of the mill’s Icons collection, which focuses on timeless constructions and indigo shades that tap into the demand for both heritage and modern denim.
“Icons was created as a tribute to denim purists,” adds Junaid Javed, SM Denim executive chairman. “With BodyCast, those fabrics come alive in a way that feels both timeless and relevant.”
