Sustainability

Wash Temperature and Cycle

The care label tells you how to best keep your favourites safe from harm, make sure you read it. Unless the cotton garment is worn close to the body, like underwear, socks, or Nightwear, warm or cool water is the best washing temperature to prevent shrinkage.

Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures**

**Research carried out by Energy Saving Trust 2017

How often should I wash cotton garments?

Cotton can be machine or hand-washed. To prevent garments from shrinking and to keep them looking their best, wash at 30°. Place delicate items in a mesh bag to help prevent snagging or twisting during machine cycles.

Hang cotton out to dry, as heat from tumble dryers can cause it to shrink. This also saves energy. Cotton clothing should be washed every two to three times it’s worn, depending on how dirty the item gets.

Top tips for cotton

Keep light garments bright by pre-treating stains in areas such as under arms, necklines and cuffs. But avoid bleach, it’s tough on the fabric and bad for the environment. Instead, try lemon juice (for stains) or vinegar (gets rid of smell).

Pre-treating - If your item has stains, pre-treat them with a stain remover before tossing them into the washing machine or washing them by hand. Pre ‑treat stains before washing by dabbing a small amount of stain remover on the area. For darker pieces, patch test on an inside seam to check the colour won’t be affected.

Wash Temperature and Cycle

The care label tells you how to best keep your favourites safe from harm, make sure you read it. Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures**

**Research carried out by Energy Saving Trust 2017

How often should I wash denim garments?

Did you know you don’t need to wash denim all the time? We recommended to wash every 3-10 wears…this makes denim last longer and helps the environment.

Top tips for denim

In between washes, you can spot clean surface dirt with a damp cloth. Wash denim inside out to stop the colour fading Take out of machine as soon as you can and hang out to dry.

The weight of the denim will reduce creases (we would avoid using an iron as heat can weaken the fibres). We recommend not to tumble dry denim as this could cause shrinkage especially if there’s a bit of stretch in there.

Pre-washed and raw denim need different approaches. Raw denim dye transfers easily to light surfaces: underwear, shirts, trainers, furniture. Be careful where you sit. Make sure to wash your raw denim alone or with similar colours, as the indigo will bleed.

Hang to dry and place a newspaper underneath to catch any dripping dye. Wash your denim garments separately for the first 2 to 3 washes as dyes can bleed.

Wash Temperature and Cycle

The care label tells you how to best keep your favourites safe from harm, make sure you read it. Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures* Swimwear can take a beating from pool chemicals, sun protection, water, sand, high temperatures. Hot water can fade colours and break down the elasticity. It is best to rinse your swimwear in cool water after each wear.

**Research carried out by Energy Saving Trust 2017

How often should I wash swimwear?

Washing swimwear should be done by hand every three to five wears but if you must machine wash then place in a mesh bag meant for delicate items to protect in the machine. Use a mild detergent and select the delicate wash cycle.

Top tips for swimwear

Almost every swimwear item contains elastane which stretches in wear and breaks down with body oils and perspiration, chemicals from sunscreen and pools and hot tubs. The colour can fade too so it is important to rinse your swimwear as soon as possible to remove these contaminants and retain shape.

Rinse your swimsuit as soon as possible in cool water after each time you wear it and if possible, soak for 30 mins as soaking will remove body oils, chemicals, salt and sand that can damage the fabric.

When removing from the water, gently squeeze the excess water but do not wring as this can cause damage.

Once soaked / rinsed, spread the swimwear out flat out to dry out of direct sunlight as the UV rays can cause the fibres to break down and fade the colour.

For sunscreen removal, check the label on the garment before treating the stain. Test any detergent or cleaning solution on a hidden area first, to check that the product will not affect the garment.

Wash Temperature and Cycle

The care label tells you how to best keep your favourites safe from harm, make sure you read it. Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures**

**Research carried out by Energy Saving Trust 2017

How often should I wash synthetic garments?

Every synthetic material is different, some of them very durable, others more sensitive. Most of them can be washed by machine or by hand, but be careful with harsh detergents, they may bleach or harm the fabric.

Top tips for Synthetics

Synthetic materials release microfibres when washed. To reduce the amount entering the water, put your synthetics in a microfibre-catching bag, and don’t forget to clean out the bag and sort the captured microfibres in a sealed container in your household waste.

Wash Temperature and Cycle

The care label tells you how to best keep your favourites safe from harm, make sure you read it.

If it is indicated that it can be washed by hand / washing machine, either use a washing bag or turn the garment inside out.

Ideally wash in cold water on a gentle cycle to prevent shrinkage and pilling and make sure to use a neutral or low-alkali detergent.

Top tips for viscose

After washing, spread out your garment evenly and do not twist it It should be dried in a cool or ventilated place.

Iron at a low temperature and inside out to preserve the colour and avoid shiny spots