Methods & Environments
Maritime Aging takes shape through specific methods and the environments in which garments are aged.
Each method is defined not by a desired look, but by where the denim is placed and how it is allowed to live. Water depth, movement, light, temperature, and sediment all influence the outcome. These variables are not controlled—they are observed.
What follows is a map of how place shapes material.
The LunarTide™ Method
The LunarTide™ Method is Lunasalt’s surface-aging process. Garments are aged in active coastal waters, where repeated tidal movement, saltwater contact, and sun exposure work the fabric gradually over time.
Motion is constant but low-impact. Fibers relax evenly without being thinned or broken down. Any fading, contrast, or texture that develops is the result of duration and conditions—not intervention.
Lunar cycles provide a natural framework for timing, offering a consistent way to measure exposure without forcing outcomes.
Within the LunarTide™ Method, different environments create distinct expressions.
OYSTR-WASH
Environment: Active deep-water oyster farm
Depth: Floating at the surface
Conditions: Saltwater, sun exposure, natural ocean turbidity
Garments are sealed in oyster bags and suspended in floating cages at an active oyster farm. While they remain at the surface, they are constantly influenced by passing tides, sunlight, and the living water column below.
This environment produces balanced, even aging. Indigo settles deeply into the cotton, softening the fabric while maintaining structure. When contrast appears, it develops slowly and organically, shaped by movement rather than abrasion.
OYSTR-WASH reflects steady exposure and consistency—denim that feels settled rather than stressed.
JETTY-WASH
Environment: Open surface water near coastal structures
Depth: Surface-level, unbagged
Conditions: Increased motion, reflected energy, direct exposure
JETTY-WASH garments are aged openly at the surface without oyster bags. Increased water movement, reflected wave energy, and uninterrupted sun exposure allow the denim to respond more directly to its surroundings.
This method can produce stronger visual contrast over time, though nothing is pressed or engineered. Any patterning that emerges is the result of repeated movement and exposure, not imposed wear.
JETTY-WASH represents a more open, energetic interaction with the sea.
COATUE-WASH
Environment: Shallow tidal pool fed by a tributary
Depth: Very shallow, periodically flooded and drained
Conditions: Brackish water, fine silt, minimal sand
COATUE-WASH takes place in a shallow, muddy tidal basin that fills and empties with the tide. The water here is slower, darker, and rich with fine sediment rather than sand.
Garments rest low in the water, interacting with silt and organic matter that settles gently rather than abrades. The result is a quieter evolution—subtle warmth, irregular tonal shifts, and a softened surface shaped by suspension and settling.
COATUE-WASH is defined by stillness and gradual change.
DeepWater™ Method (In Development)
The DeepWater™ Method is a separate Maritime Aging process currently in development.
Garments are aged below the surface in cold, lightless water, where movement is reduced and biological activity is minimal. Without sun exposure and with slower motion, changes occur at a more restrained pace.
This method emphasizes balance, uniformity, and longevity over visible contrast.
DeepWater™ represents the opposite end of the Maritime Aging spectrum.
One Philosophy, Many Outcomes
These methods are not interchangeable and they are not aesthetic presets.
They are expressions of place.
Every garment begins with the same intent: to be shaped by real conditions, allowed to evolve honestly, and finished without shortcuts. What differs is where the work happens—and what the environment allows.
To understand the broader philosophy behind these methods, see Maritime Aging.
