fabric-care-guide

Durable and soft, cotton is a versatile fabric and is commonly used for garments as well as home furnishings and bed-linen. It gets softer and more absorbent with every wash but is also known to shrink and wrinkle easily.

There are variants of cotton and depending on the composition, a different care regime is recommended.

100% Pure Cotton

Caring for pure cotton is not as difficult as it seems. Depending on the usability and how treasured your garment is, you can opt between dry-cleaning and hand-wash. With right practices and products, you can easily prolong the life of your cotton clothes.

Handloom Cotton

Hand spun cotton is beautiful to feel and look at. It breathes and absorbs better than machine made cotton. Slight irregularities in texture, color and finish are characteristics of hand-woven fabric and just like art, no two pieces are alike!

It is best to gently hand-wash this type. With little patience and extra caution, you can preserve its textural beauty and character.

Blend

Since cotton is prone to shrinkage and color bleeding, it is usually used in combination with other fabrics. A blended composition can be safely machine washed and dried with no ill effects. Best is to properly follow instructions mentioned on the inside care label of the garment.

~ Fashion is instant language | MIUCCIA PRADA ~

Made from fibers of the flax plant, linen is one beautiful, comfortable, absorbent and durable fabric. It ages gracefully and grows lustrous with every wash, provided it’s taken well care of.

There is a misconception that linen fabric is high maintenance and is only suitable for dry cleaning. The fact is, linen is one of the oldest natural fabrics and has been in use since the Christian Era. This means that linen has been around long before dry cleaners!

It is perfectly fine to hand wash or machine wash linen gently. Hot water and hot iron could do more harm than good. Linen is ever so wrinkly and resists ironing. A non-uniform nubby texture and crush is a tell-tale of real linen and lends the fabric a distinctive appeal.

Burn Test

A simple Burn Test can help you identify real linen. In a metal can, place a few threads from the hem of the fabric and light a candle. Linen will always burn with a yellow flame and smell like burnt glass. It is also known to leave a residue of white ash. Polyester and like synthetic fabrics on the other hand melt into plastic.

~ Dressing is a way of life | YVES SAINT LAURENT ~

Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile, which was first used as clothing for workers in America owing to the strength and durability of the fabric. Such is the strength of the fabric, that Levis Strauss wanted it to be used for creating tents and wagon covers.

The original denim was 100% cotton but now the material can be found in different types and blends adding to the fabric’s features. These types include:

Raw Denim - As opposed to other types, raw or dry denim is not washed after it is produced. It is advised to use the least washing or heating to this fabric.

Selvage Denim - This is also an unwashed denim type. It’s best not to machine wash this fabric. Just soak them for a while and scrub off the dirt.

Stretch Denim - 2% Spandex is added to this material to create the most comfortable stretch jeans. These can be washed in very cold water. Avoid bleach at all costs.

Poly Denim - Blended with polyester, this is a lightweight material that can be washed and dried quickly. Shrinkage and wrinkles are minimal in this kind of denim.

Ramie Cotton Denim - This material is very flexible and strong. It retains its shape and texture even after multiple washes. It can be machine washed and air dried for best results.

Over the years, it has become the most versatile fabric and is used to make jeans, vests, jackets, dresses and much more. Since the material is prone to shrinkage and bleeding, it is best to ardently stick to the given care instructions.

~ Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance | COCO CHANEL ~

Rayon fabric was the first synthetic fabric to be ever made. The silk-like fabric, is a great alternative to silk as it not only looks similar, but also feels similar. Since it can easily shrink and get wrinkles, it is essential that you take proper care of it. Always hand wash it in cold water with mild detergent unless otherwise specified. Air dry it in cool shade and protect it from sunlight. To ensure that it doesn’t get any wrinkles, iron it when it is slightly damp.

The fabric is widely used in the manufacture of apparels such as tops, bottoms, dresses, blouses, sportswear, gym clothes and more. You may be surprised to know that even products like bed sheets, blankets and slipcovers are made using this fabric.

~ I like my money where I can see it - hanging in my closet | CARRIE BRADSHAW ~

Viscose fabric is produced during a process called the viscose process, wherein it’s made using wood pulp or cotton linter. It is one of the most common types of rayon and bears a close resemblance to silk. The good news is that it does not cost a fortune like silk and is very light-weight in texture. But since it is manufactured with a high concentration of caustic soda, it is not very durable.

To wash viscose items properly, ensure that you read the instructions mentioned on the label. While some viscose items must be hand-washed, some can also be machine-washed and even bleached. Then, there are some items that should only be dry-cleaned. It is recommended to wash them in cold water using a mild cleaning product.

~ Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak | RACHEL ZOE ~

Georgette is a light-weight, sheer fabric, that gives a bouncy and crinkled look. It is woven in highly twisted yarns in two forms - Pure and Faux. Pure Georgette is woven out of Silk yarns, while the Faux Georgette is woven from Rayon and Polyester.

It was introduced in the 20th century by Madame Georgette de la Plante, who was a French dressmaker. It is believed that chiffon was the inspiration for georgette, but the latter is more durable than the former.

It is now available in several variants including:

• Jacquard Georgette fabric
• Nylon Georgette fabric
• Viscose Georgette fabric
• Silk Georgette fabric
• Polyester Georgette fabric
• Satin Georgette fabric

~ Fashion is about something that comes from within you | RALPH LAUREN ~

Lycra was first produced as a replacement to rubber. It is made of a long chain polymer called polyurethane, which is in-turn produced by reacting polyester with a diisocyanate.

Lycra/Spandex leggings became popular during 1970’s and 1980’s when the rock band performers flaunted them. Denims and leather trousers tend to sag and lose their fit after a while, so these were replaced with lycra or spandex clothing that provided long lasting fit and better movement onstage.

Since that time, from New York to Paris, LA to London, Lycra is popular world over.

Properties of Lycra:

• High Elasticity
• Dull luster
• Slow to burn
• Low strength compared to most other synthetic fiber
• Resistance to organic solvents including dry cleaning solvents
• Degraded by chlorine bleach
• Although dyeable, some varieties can be averse to dying

Lycra is seldom used entirely as a whole. It is often used in conjunction with other natural as well as man-made fabrics to get a versatile blended composition. Even a small percentage of Lycra in any fabric results in extra comfort, flexibility, fit enhancement, shape retention and wrinkle resistance.

Being highly stretchable, Lycra is considered to be a ‘second to skin’ fabric and is therefore commonly used in skin tight clothing like sportswear, compression garments, shapewear, hosiery, club-wear and more.

~ People will stare. Make it worth their while | HARRY WINSTON ~

Exuding class and elegance, silk is a fabric with a rich heritage dating back to thousands of years. Its origin is known to be around the Indus Valley Civilization between 2450 BC and 2000 BC. Today, India is world’s second largest producer of silk, 2nd only to China.

One of the most pricey fabrics out there, silk is much sought after despite a hefty price tag because of its sheer opulence.

Handspun using intricate procedures, silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, yet is a delicate fabric to care for. Although dry-cleaning is recommended but frequent trips to the dry-cleaner are not good for your beloved silk either. It also gets weakened with excessive exposure to sun and is prone to insects attack if left unclean. If handled with love and care, silk can last you a long time.

Properties of Silk:

• Strongest Natural Fiber
• Good Insulation quality. Stays warm in winter and cool in summer
• Shiny and luxurious in appeal
• Poor Elasticity
• Is highly dyeable
• Bit difficult to care but extremely comfortable to wear

Types of Silk

Like a local language, silk type also changes with a little distance travelled. In India especially, almost every state has its own variant of silk. Some of the most common silk types across the world are:

• Mulberry Silk: This variety is the most common silk available in the world. It is obtained from silkworms which are fed from the Mulberry Bush. China, Japan and Korea have this silk in abundance. Since the worms are killed in their cocoons in order to extract long fibres, it is considered as an unethical way of obtaining silk.
• Raw Silk: A widely used, unprocessed form of silk that can be woven into different fabrics.
• Tussar Silk: Also called as Wild Silk, this silk type is exclusive of India and radiates a rich gold sheen.
• Art Silk: Short form for artificial silk, it is an inexpensive alternative to silk. Produced from a synthetic fiber like Rayon to get a resemblance of silk.
• Pashmina Silk: Combined with Pashmina wool to get a fabric that defines elegance. Extensively used to produce scarves, stoles, home furnishing and more.
• Tanchoi Silk: Woven using a technique that blends silk from two countries, China and India.

Did you know?

• The strength of silk fabric is equivalent to that of a metal wire.
• 10 Kgs of Cocoons produce 1 Kg of silk.
• Spider silk is the strongest of them all.
• Silk is also obtained from Mussels.

Test for Real Silk - Burn Test

Not a fool-proof method, but this burn test is fairly definitive to tell real silk from synthetic.

Take a few strands of silk fabric and put them to flame.

Genuine silk is known to burn like human hair and will leave a powdery black ask residue. When the flame is taken away, the threads stop burning.

Synthetic fabric on the other hand burns like plastic and produces black smoke. It continues to burn even when the flame is out.

~ Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered | GIORGIO ARMANI ~

Wool is a beautiful natural fiber and has been used by human kind for over 3000 years. Animal fur/hair is spun into yarn to obtain the wonderfully warm and soft wool that looks comforting and luxurious at the same time. The oldest wool was found in Denmark and dates back to 1500 B.C.

Despite all the glory, maintaining wool is a tricky affair. With improper care or mishandling, wool is easily damaged. It may take a little extra effort to care for wool, but it is worth it.

Qualities of Wool:

• Wool is elastic and resilient.
• Wool is absorbent. It has a complex cellular structure which enables it to absorb moisture, while repelling liquid.
• Wool can be dyed deeply in beautiful, rich hues.
• Wool has insulating properties, which makes it trap heat and also absorb moisture.

Types of Wool:

• Sheep Wool: One of the most traditional wool, spun from sheep fleece.
• Merino Wool: Merino wool is considered to be one of the most warm wool type, hence it is expensive too. It is taken from Merino Sheep and has fine, soft texture. It resists pilling.
• Angora Wool: Made from Angora rabbit hair. This wool type is extremely fluffy and soft. Nylon blend imparts stability.
• Cashmere Wool: Considered as one of the most luxurious wool type, Cashmere is obtained from the fleece of Cashmere goat. There was a generation where a person’s worth was calculated in terms of the number of cashmere items possessed.
• Lamb’s Wool: A soft, virgin wool that is shorn from a seven-eight month old lamb.

~ Fashion is not for sissies | MICHAEL KORS ~

Nylon is a durable artificial fibre made from petroleum products. It is one of the most commonly used polyamides, and was first produced on February 28, 1935. It was invented by Wallace Carothers.

Owing to the fact that it is extremely strong, easy to make and also very versatile, nylon is now used to make clothing, string, carpets, bags, fishing nets and even parachutes.

After its invention, nylon was first used to make toothbrushes. Today, nylon is among the many polymer products in common daily use throughout the world.

Certain characteristics of nylon include:

• Exceptionally strong
• Elastic
• Abrasion resistant
• Lustrous
• Easy to wash
• Resistant to damage from oil and many chemicals
• Can be pre-coloured or dyed in wide range of colours
• Resilient
• Low in moisture absorbency
• Filament yarns provide smooth, soft, long-lasting fabrics
• Spun yarns lend fabrics light weight and warmth

Nylon is very sensitive to heat and should be washed and dried on cool settings. Extreme heat can permanently wrinkle the fabric. The fabric can be hung to dry, and dries very quickly due to its inherent properties.

As it is a strong fabric, its care is easy and often taken for granted. It is advised not to overlook the sewn on care instructions to preserve the fabric for a longer time.

~ The joy of dressing is an art | JOHN GALLIANO ~