I think it's prolonged agitation and overcrowding in the washer and/or dryer that makes a new fabric look 'beat up' when it's washed.
I now overcast the raw edges of fabrics that are to be washed by machine. I used to occasionally have threads come off or tangle up to an inch on each end - depending on the fabric and how it was cut. On expensive fabric, I figure it's worth the few minutes to preserve as much of it as I can.
Of course, this only applies to those of us that choose to wash our fabrics before cutting them.