Please read care instructions carefully as majority of our garments are embroidered, embellished, and / or weaved and therefore special care needs to be taken.
To start with, read the garment label and if the label says 'Dry Clean' only or/and the garment includes embellishments such as beads and sequins we strongly advise to discuss with the dry cleaner what type of cleaning/solvents should be used as some chemicals may damage or melt the delicate trim.
Silk, Satin and Rayon Products should generally be professionally spot cleaned / dry-cleaned unless advised differently on the care label - Please discuss the treatment with the dry cleaner to make sure that treatment selected will be safe for your garments
Important: Dry cleaning customers should take their garments out of the plastic bags and air their garments when they get it back as one of the most common type of solvent used (perchloroethylene) is a chemical compound and is considered hazardous and inhaling its vapors in high concentration (specially in a closed, poor ventilated areas) can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, nausea, and possibly even unconsciousness and death. Also the drycleaner bags are said to trap odors and mildew and the plastic attracts dust). Therefore it is a good idea to store out of season hanging clothes in cloth bags
Hand wash in cold water separately using laundry soap or a detergent without enzymes. Use a gentle plunging action and avoid rubbing. We strongly advise to test for colorfastness before you wash the garments (please read' Testing for colourfastness' below)
Do not soak, twist or wring
Do not tumble dry
Reshape and dry flat in shade
Cool iron if necessary on the reverse side without steam with a cotton cloth over it
Store garments loosely folded or hung up
Do not leave garments damp as this encourages mildew to form which is difficult to wash out and contributes to premature deterioration of the clothing
Do not fold the garments the same way each time, to help prevent permanent creasing.
Testing for colourfastness
To test the colourfastness of a garment, dampen a small area of hem or inside seam, then iron a piece of white fabric or kitchen paper onto it. If any colour blots off, then the garment is not colourfast. It should be washed separately in cold water and rinse it immediately. Non colourfast garments should not be left to soak.
Hand washing detergents should be used for home laundry when cleaning fine fabrics.. Properties to look for when using hand-washing detergents include use in cold water, quick dissolving in cold water, and complete rinsing of the detergent after the wash.
To test hand washing detergents or any detergent, dissolve recommended amount of detergent in cold water. Allow the detergent and water to sit for 24 hours. Note the residue, if any, in the bottom - this residue may be difficult to rinse out of your garment
General Tips
- Some people prefer to starch cotton or cotton/polyester garments. The basic function of starch is to stiffen the garment - however, starch can leave minute crystals in the fiber that can often wear the garment out faster than a garment that has not been starched
- Avoid hair spray, deodorants, perfume or alcohol to come in contact with sequins / beads to prevent discolorations of the sequins
- Delicate fabrics requires a lower temperature iron and should be ironed on the reverse side with a press cloth
- After washing 'hand washable' scarves, they can be rolled in a towel instead of wringing and twisting them
- Garments should be cleaned before storage. Many foods and beverages leave yellow stains behind as they age. Stains can also attract insects that may damage the fabric while feeding on the stain
- Do not allow the stored items exposure to sunlight or artificial light and heat as it can cause some dyes to fade or yellow
- It is important to allow fabrics to breathe therefore use packing material that also breathes, like white tissue paper or clean sheets/pillow cases
- Knitted garments should be folded and never hung. Hanging can cause the garment to stretch out of shape
- Always use fabric support straps or loops, and when necessary sew additional straps to garments, to reduce stress. These straps help to distribute the garment weight and minimize the distortion of the garment in areas, such as the neckline
- Avoid wire hangers, unless they are covered. Wire hangers can rust and stain fabric, and the metal edges can snag the fabric. Generally padded or plastic hangers are gentler than wire ones
- Use the proper heat setting and time cycle. Don't use a high or regular setting for all clothes. Read the label fabrics made from fibers such as Acrylic, Polyester, Nylon, Micrfibers, etc which have low moisture absorbency - are fast drying and should be dried using a low temperature setting
- Separate man-made fabrics, like polyester from natural fibers such as cotton. Man-made fibers can attract the oils that are released from natural fibers during washing. These oils can build up and make spots more noticeable
General Stain Guidelines
- Before washing or treating any stains remember to refer to the care label instructions on the garment
- Treat stains promptly. Newer stains are easier to remove than older ones. If the stain is on a fabric that cannot be washed take it to the dry cleaner as soon as possible, and discuss the nature of the stain and the fiber content of the garment. In some cases pre-spotting will help eliminate stains that could otherwise be heat set after the garment is cleaned
- Read instructions and carefully follow the directions when using any stain removal products
- Always test stain removers on an inside seam or other hidden part of garment for color fastness. To test, apply product and let stand 2-5 minutes, then rinse. If color changes, do not use product on garment
- When using bleach, remember to bleach the entire garment and not just one area to prevent uneven color removal
- When treating stains place the stained area face down on a clean paper towel or white cloth and apply stain remover to the underside of the stain. This will force the stain off the fabric surface instead of through it
- Never put dry-cleaning solvents or chemicals directly into washer
- Thoroughly rinse and dry areas treated with dry-cleaning solvents before placing in washer, to avoid a fire
- Do not mix stain removal products together. Some mixtures, such as ammonia and chlorine bleach, can produce noxious fumes
- Always launder washable items after treating to remove residues of the stain and the stain remover
- Remember it can take extra time and effort to remove some stains
- In the end some stains cannot be removed
