Garment Care

The garment you're holding was made by hand, with natural fibers and construction methods chosen for quality and longevity - not for speed or cost-cutting. That means it will reward good care, and it may need slightly different handling than what you're used to from mass-market clothing. 

The following four practices will go a long way toward keeping your garment looking its best for years to come. 

1. Wash like colors together. 

As dyes are exposed to water and agitation, they bleed - and when mixed, they gradually neutralize each other into a dull grey-brown. Separating colors keeps your clothes looking vivid and true. 

If you're doing two loads, lights and darks is a reasonble split. For a more thorough approach, four categories work well:

  • Pure whites
  • Lights - tans, greys, light-wash denim, lightly pigmented pieces 
  • Brights - deep reds, yellows, greens, and other saturated colors
  • Darks - blacks, dark blues, browns, and rich earth tones 

2. Line dry when possible. 

Electric dryers introduce two things that are hard on fabrics: heat and mechanical tension. Over time, both weaken the fibers and stitching that hold a garment together. Air drying eliminates these stressors almost entirely. 

A few additional benefits worth knowing: 

  • Scent: Air-dried clothes smell noticeably fresher - many people describe it as smelling like sunshine. 
  • Pilling: Garments pill significantly less when dried without heat, which extends their life and reduces the need for fabric shavers. 
  • Energy savings: Households can save money in energy costs by switching to air drying. 

What's there to lose with air drying, you might ask? Garments that make regular skin contact - think undershirts, underwear, and towels - may retain some lint without a dryer to pull it away. A quick pass with a lint roller before wearing takes care of this. 

3. Iron inside out. 

If you're air drying, you'll likely need to iron. Here are two things to keep in mind: 

First, printed or textured fabrics can degrade with repeated direct heat exposure. Second, structured textures like corduroy will show iron makrs if pressed face-up. The solution for both is to iron inside out. 

For corduroy specifically: fold the garment in half with the right sides facing each other before ironing. The pile (the raised texture) presses into itself while folded, which preserves its volume and appearance when unfolded. 

4. Wash less frequently. 

Unless a garment is in direct contact with your skin during physical activity, it almost certainly doesn't need to be washed after every wear. Outer layers, sweaters, and structured pieces can go multiple wears between washes without issue. 

Every wash cycle introuces wear - agitation, heat, and water all take a small toll on fibers or construction. The real reasons to wash a garment are to address stains, odor, or sweat. For everything else: 

  • Spot treat stains as soon as they happen
  • Air out the garment between wears 
  • Use an odor-neutralizing spray if needed 
  • Iron or steam before wearing again.

Thank you for supporting handmade clothing, and for taking the time to care for it well. If you have questinos about a specific garment or fabric, feel to reach out via email or the contact page!