Care
Made to age, not to wear out.
A natural fibre, looked after, only becomes more itself.
The most common mistake with good cloth is to wash it as often and as harshly as cheap cloth. Natural fibres do not need it, and it shortens their life. The guide below is short on purpose.
Cotton
Heavyweight organic, 280–320gsm
- Wash cold with similar colours, and only when it truly needs it.
- Tumble dry low, or dry flat to keep the weight and shape.
- Iron warm, inside out. Garment-dyed cotton softens and settles with each wash — this is intended.
Merino & lambswool
Undyed, knitted in Italy and England
- Hand wash cold, or dry clean. Never wring.
- Lay flat to dry, reshaping gently while damp.
- Steam to refresh between wears rather than washing. Wool resists odour and rarely needs more.
- Store folded, not hung — hanging stretches the shoulder over time.
Linen
European flax, woven in Portugal
- Wash cold and line dry.
- Iron warm only if you wish — linen is meant to wrinkle, and a treated linen is no longer quite linen.
- It softens with every wash. The first wear is the stiffest it will ever be.
Wool-linen tailoring
Blended for trousers and overshirts
- Dry clean only, and seldom.
- Steam to refresh and to drop creases.
- Hang on a wide hanger to hold the line of the leg.
Wash less. Dry flat. Let the cloth rest.