Blog by:
Marissa
Do you have an urgent question about a particular fabric and its properties? Marissa knows everything about fabrics and provides the best maintenance tips. Additionally, she has a talent for mixing and matching styles and materials with a contemporary nonchalance.
When we think of silk, we often visualize supple and smooth fabrics, but that’s merely one form of silk. Nowadays, silk is also blended into T-shirts and even knitwear. All those different versions of silk need different care. Even the amount of silk used in the garment is a determining factor on how it should be treated. So, always carefully read the washing instructions.
Oftentimes, washing silk by hand is recommended. Our tip: don’t! Unless you’re a pro at hand washing and know how to use bath thermometers and measuring caps to find the right formula for washing your silk. Too much detergent, too warm or too cold water, or rubbing too hard are all silk’s greatest enemies and small mistakes are made easily. Just leave it to the machine and use a silk program. To prevent any form of damage, it’s important to never wash your silk item with other garments and to always use a mesh laundry bag.
Silk comes from the silk caterpillar, which makes it an animal derived product consisting of protein that’s vulnerable to erosion. Alkali, bleach, perfume and alcohol are just a few examples of ingredients found in regular detergents that are harmful for silk clothes. You won’t see immediate damage, but your silk garment will thin over time and look tired and worn quicker. So, using detergent that’s especially meant for silk is no unnecessary luxury, but simply leads to a longer lifespan of your silk items.
When delicate silk fibers are wet, they’re at their most vulnerable. This makes a careful drying process a necessity. After washing, simply role your silk garment into a clean and dry towel and carefully squeeze out excess water. Then leave to dry on top of another towel. Light colored or white silk will turn yellow when left to dry in the sun, because just like human skin, silk can get ‘sunburnt’. This means you should also be mindful when ironing silk: always iron on the inside and use a tea towel for protection. Do you already own a steamer? That’s even better and safer for you delicate silks.
Is your silk item woven delicately, is it dyed in a bright color, richly decorated with buttons or zippers, or is it simply very dear to you? Then bring it to a professional dry cleaner to ensure perfect care.
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