Make it Do!

Ever wash a scarf in the washing machine and have it come out destroyed and/or damaged beyond reuse? Proper care and cleaning of your fine Pieces can prolong their lives and cost you less in the long run.

Fabric care: Most scarves in these modern day are polyester derivative, for example: chiffon used to be of fine silk spun into the weblike fabric as you know it, but when you see Chiffon as the fabric type today it is usually the polyester chiffon. Most recommended fabric care is as below:

• High temperatures are bad for all fabrics.

• Whiteners are always preferable to bleach.

• As a general rule always dry clean a garment that is lined and use natural detergents for delicate fabrics. • Soaking or leaving garments damp in a washing machine will cause some coloured fabrics, prints, or trims like ribbons and leather to bleed.

Machine Wash •Use Garment Bags for fine Washables. If you have sequins, appliques or other "glued on" trim, hand wash the item lightly and hang or lay out to dry • Do not overload the machine. Do not wash at very high temperature. • Check the instructions for the detergent you use - many powders need to be re-dissolved before being added to the machine. This is a common cause of spots on garments where the powder has stuck to the garments and the colour has faded on that spot.

Hand Wash • In the first few washes the colour may bleed, therefore the garment should be washed alone. • Do not leave garments soaking for a long time. • Ensure there is no residue in the tub from cleaning products. • Allow soap or detergent to completely dissolve before adding the garment. • Do not rub garment, gently squeeze. • Rinse thoroughly. • Do not use any machine cycle even if the settings are referred to as "gentle", "hand wash" or "as gentle as hand washing".

Drying • If a garment has deep or intense colour, do not hang in direct sunlight or in heavy winds, hang garment inside-out. • If drying indoors, make sure the area is well ventilated. • Knitted, heavy or garments made of speciality fabrics should be laid flat to dry on a non-coloured towel out of direct sunlight to retain their shape. Some knits can be rolled into a towel first to squeeze out more moisture.

Ironing • Follow ironing instructions on care label. • For heavy cottons and linens, iron while still damp or when dry with lots of steam. Over-dried creases are very hard to iron out!

Cotton • Will shrink if washed at high temperature but may be ironed at high temperature. • If garment is coloured it should be washed alone for the first time. • Colours will fade if hung in direct sunlight, hang garments inside-out. • High resistance to rubbing, very moisture absorbing.

Linen • Should not be washed at high temperatures but can be ironed at high temperature. • If coloured, linen will fade in direct sunlight.

Viscose/Rayon • Dry clean only – due to delicate nature of fabric when wet. • If you can’t get your garment to a dry-cleaner, a warm, gentle hand wash in a delicate liquid detergent is essential. • Iron using a low to medium heat with a small amount of steam. • Store garments in drawers rather than wardrobes, with some sort of moth repellent – try dried lavender sachets or cedar balls as alternatives to unpleasant smelling mothballs. • Don't use pegs as the fabric becomes weak when wet.

Silk • Hand wash inside out in warm water using a delicate liquid detergent. Some silks may handle a gentle machine wash – check manufacturer care instructions. • Handle with care when wet. • Dry flat out of direct sunlight. • Iron on a low heat setting with steam. • Store folded in drawers or hung in plastic. • Don’t tumble dry, machine wash (unless stated on garment), bleach, rub, or spot clean. • Some silk fabrics fade easily.

Elastane, spandex, lycra and other stretch garments Any garment containing spandex, elastane, or lycra will retain its shape well and will remain wrinkle free. The following tips refer to these stretch fibers, not the fibers they are blended with. • Warm machine wash. • Line dry. If the item is an undercap with rhinestones, handwashing would be preferred. • Do not bleach. Additional notes: • As these fibers are blended with others, always pay attention to the fiber they are blended with – e.g. If they are blended with silk, pay attention to silk washing instructions as well. •

Wool • Hand wash inside out in warm water using a registered liquid wool wash. • Wash in a large tub with plenty of water (not a bucket). This will help prevent the garment becoming matted. • Handle carefully when wet. • Dry (flat) immediately out of direct sunlight. • Iron (if necessary) using a warm steam setting. • Store folded. • If the garment care label advises machine washing, use a warm delicate/wool cycle in a delicates bag. Slow spin and remove from machine immediately. • Don’t bleach, tumble dry, or hang.

Denim • Machine wash inside out (to retain color), separately, in cold water. • Pre-dissolve washing powder in water (alternatively, use liquid), to avoid detergent staining. • Remove from machine immediately shaking out any folds or wrinkles. This prevents dye "ponding" leaving creases and folds white in appearance. • Line dry inside out. If the care instructions advise tumble drying, then dry on low heat setting. • Warm to hot iron using plenty of steam. • Don’t bleach, hot wash, or dry iron. • Store hung or folded.

Polyester/Nylon • Cold wash. These fabrics are sensitive to heat. • Iron at a low temperature with no steam. • Has high resistance to fading.

• Fine polyester chiffon or nylon mesh knit must be handled with extra care. Should be machine washed in cold water on the delicate cycle in a garment bag of its own. Air dry, if you put in dryer it may "pucker up" and wrinkle

• Garments will snag if they come into contact with rough surfaces such as jewellery, handbags or seat-belts. When laundering follow the individual garments care instructions.

Items with fringe: when storing a shawl or hanging a scarf or shawl to dry that has fringe, fold the scarf so that the fringes at each end do not meet (see picture below.)

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