ELWIN garments are made to last using sustainable fabrics and high quality construction. How you care for them can help prolong their life so you can wear them for longer.
Air your clothes between wears so that you don’t need to wash them as often. Washing less saves water and energy. A light steam can help refresh clothes instead of washing.
Be mindful of how to care for different types of clothes before laundering them. Caring for your clothes in the right way will help prolong their lifespan. Check the care label for instructions. As a general rule, it is better to wash and dry your clothes inside out to protect the surface and reduce colour fade.
We recommend washing at low temperatures for all clothing. Not only does it use less energy, but it can help clothes last longer and make them less likely to fade or shrink in the wash.
Avoid using laundry detergents which contain synthetic chemicals and fragrances. Use non biological and eco friendly washing products which are gentler on your clothes as well as kinder to the environment.
Avoid using the tumble dryer and dry your clothes naturally. Tumble drying clothes exposes them to high temperatures and agitates and ages them. It can cause shrinkage and fading. Your clothes will last longer if dried naturally away from sunlight. Avoiding the dryer will also significantly reduce your energy consumption (and save you money!).
The majority of our fabrics can be machine washed at 30 degrees with a gentle spin cycle. We try to avoid using dry clean only fabrics, however some of our deadstock fabrics that come from the luxury fashion sector are dry clean only. Please check the care label in your garment for specific care instructions.
Hand or machine wash your garment at 30 degrees with a gentle detergent. The cloth will naturally shrink a little when washed as the tension is looser in hand woven fabric. Once you iron the fabric it will stretch back out to the original size. By their nature, handloom fabrics are delicate so please handle them gently. They may have some slubs and little flaws in the weave, this is natural and part of their unique character.
Shirts and dresses are best stored hanging, trousers can be folded in a drawer and knitwear should always be folded. Always ensure clothes are clean before storing for long periods and keep away from direct sunlight in a cool dry environment.
Wool is antibacterial so it is naturally resistant to odours and dirt. This means you don’t need to wash it regularly. We recommend that you wash your knitwear less and air it instead. Try to rest your knit between wears. Airing will give it chance to relax and keep it fresh. A light steam can also help reshape it. You can air it by lying it flat on a drying rack. Collars and cuffs can be spot cleaned using mild soapy water. Gently soak, do not rub.
Many yarns are chemically treated to make them machine washable. Ours is fully natural so it should not be washed in a machine. Wash by hand using a gentle detergent designed for wool.
Handwash the garment inside out in lukewarm water. Gently squeeze suds through the fabric taking care not to rub the garment. Rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water, squeezing gently without twisting, rubbing or wringing.
Wool is vulnerable when wet so handle with care. Lay it flat on a dry towel and roll it up pressing to squeeze out the excess water. Smooth the garment back into shape whilst damp. Place flat on a towel and dry naturally away from direct heat and sunlight. Do not tumble dry or hang your garment on the washing line as this will distort the shape. When dry, press lightly with a cool iron.
After wearing your knit for a while you may find small balls of fibre
forming on the surface. These small balls or “pills” are caused by some of the loose fibres tangling together during wear.Pilling is an inherent characteristic of wool, natural fibres pill, no matter how well spun or knitted.
Pills can be easily removed by hand or using a wool comb. Lay the garment flat and run the comb lightly over the surface. Over time the pilling will decrease as the loose fibres are removed.
We recommend folding your knitwear to store it in a cool, dry place. Do not keep it on a hanger as this can stretch the shape. Clean knitwear before storing it for long periods as this will make it less attractive to moths. Lavender and cedar sachets are also helpful to keep moths at bay.
