Your cotton garments need not and should not be washed after every wear. A simple airing outside in a shady spot or steaming/ironing is sometimes all you need. (Looking for our Wool Care Guide? Click HERE)
Benefits of less frequent washing:
Our fabrics are 100% cotton, have been woven by hand using traditional methods in India, and are dyed using natural dyes.
You will not find petroleum based synthetic microplastics or microfibres in our clothing.
All our fabrics were laundered before stitching, and pre-shrunk.
Natural dyes mature beautifully. You can expect some dye run off and rubbing (clothing, skin), especially with indigo, with the first few washes.
Brush off any dry matter that has adhered to the fabric.
Spot wash. Dab the stain with a clean cloth or sponge and some cool water, and then lay flat to dry.
To preserve the beauty of the natural dyes, and ensure the longevity of your garment:
A threadbare cuff of a well-loved piece of clothing is a sign your garment is doing its best as a favourite part of your wardrobe!
Waste is a very big problem in the fashion industry. Out of respect for the environment and respect for the effort that went into making each of our garments using traditional slow craft methods, we encourage you to mend your garments to help them to last as long as possible.
We strive to make our garments as durable as possible. Our garments have double stitched french seams, instead of overlocked/serge seams, which tend to unravel with time.
We also produce our clothing in micro batches, to avoid over-production.
Minimal washing and making the effort to repair your garment will further ensure it has a good long life, and helps to limit the amount of waste contributed by the fashion industry.
There are many mending books on the market, as well as informative How To videos online. Try various mending techniques such as traditional visible mending like Kantha and Sachiko, or patches. You can also seek out a local tailor or maker to help you with mending and repair.
Store your clean and dry cotton garments in a cool airy place, away from light.
When storing indigo dyed garments for longer storage periods, place them in airtight containers to preserve the brilliance of the blue.
From the land to the artisan, from the artisan to the consumer, and back to the land.
Many skilled and hardworking hands worked together to create your beautiful garment. It deserves to be used until it cannot be used anymore.
Although we wish that each one of the products we produce is loved until it is threadbare, sometimes a piece needs to move on from your closet.
Try to pass it on to someone who will cherish it. There are a multitude of options in the second hand market for selling or trading (hello clothing swaps!), or perhaps a good friend might love it.
Too worn out or sitting in the back of your closet, but still something you love and cherish? There are many ways you can upcycle cotton garments, including altering, dyeing, quilting, or repurposing it in another creative way.
We’d love to be able to say that everything we make lasts forever…..
The good news?
We've designed our cotton garments to be biodegradable. We've stitched them with cotton thread, dyed them with natural dyes and used cotton labels, and our buttons are hand carved natural bone.
Worn out garments can be composted or put out in the garden to return back to the earth as nourishment. Food for the earth!
Be sure to cut the fabric into little pieces so it can break down more quickly.
For comfort and fit, we added elastic to the back waistband of our pants. Remove this by opening the seams and discard before composting the fabric.