Clothes rarely wear out from being worn. They are far more often damaged by heat, friction and the wrong storage. Machine drying is the usual culprit, followed by washing too frequently and hanging knitwear on a narrow hanger. None of these are difficult to avoid once you know which fabric is in front of you.
The care label always takes priority. What follows is a general reference for the materials that appear most often in a wardrobe.
Cotton and linen
Both are durable and both shrink with heat. Wash at thirty degrees and let them dry flat or on a line rather than in a dryer. Linen creases by nature, and pressing it while slightly damp is far easier than pressing it dry. Neither fabric benefits from fabric softener, which coats the fibres and reduces how well they breathe.
Knitwear
Wool and blended knits should be washed sparingly. Airing a jumper overnight will usually refresh it, and washing only when genuinely needed extends its life considerably. When you do wash, use a wool cycle or hand wash cold, then press the water out rather than wringing.
Drying matters more than washing here. Lay knitwear flat on a towel and reshape it while damp. Hanging a wet knit stretches the shoulders permanently. Store folded rather than on hangers for the same reason.
Satin and delicate wovens
These snag easily and mark with heat. Use a mesh laundry bag on a delicate cycle, or hand wash. Keep the iron low and press on the reverse side, ideally with a cloth between the iron and the fabric. Hang to dry away from direct sunlight, which fades colour faster than most people expect.
Jersey and stretch fabrics
Anything containing elastane loses its recovery when exposed to heat. Wash cool and never tumble dry. Fold stretch tops rather than hanging them, since the weight of the fabric pulls the neckline out of shape over time.
Embellished and sequinned pieces
Occasion pieces are best hand washed inside out in cool water, or taken to a specialist if the label calls for it. Store them in a garment bag so the embellishment does not catch on neighbouring items, which is how most damage to these pieces actually happens.
Swimwear
Chlorine and salt both degrade elastic fibres. Rinse in cold water as soon as possible after wearing, then dry flat in the shade. Avoid leaving swimwear rolled up in a bag, and avoid the dryer entirely.
Storing between seasons
Clean everything before it goes away, since marks set over months and attract moths. Use breathable cotton covers rather than plastic, which traps moisture. Give structured jackets broad hangers that support the shoulder line, and keep the wardrobe dry and out of direct light.
If a piece arrives with a care question the label does not answer, ask us through the Contact page before washing it. It is a quicker conversation than a repair.
