For any of our lovely brides who have chosen to extend the life of their wedding dress through our dyeing service, we have put together a guide on how to care for your dress after the natural dyeing process has taken place. We hope you find this helpful and if you have any further questions […]
For any of our lovely brides who have chosen to extend the life of their wedding dress through our dyeing service, we have put together a guide on how to care for your dress after the natural dyeing process has taken place. We hope you find this helpful and if you have any further questions you can contact our team, who will be there to support.
Caring for Your Dress
Caring for textiles and clothing that have been naturally dyed requires a gentle and mindful approach to preserve the colours and the fabric’s integrity. Here are some care instructions to keep your naturally dyed textiles/garments looking vibrant and beautiful:
We would recommend washing your dress as little as possible. Airing your garment out on a washing line, steam cleaning or freezing to refresh it, are all recommended techniques to get the most life out of your pieces, without having to use loads of water.
This may take some getting used to but is better for the environment and for your pieces.
Naturally dyed garments will always change colour slightly over their lifetime.
How to wash your dress
In case, you need to wash your piece; just follow our handy guide to getting the best from your pieces, to maintain the longevity of your natural dyed pieces/garments in a sustainable manner and you’ll keep them looking their best for years.
Gentle hand washing is recommended.
Fill a clean sink or small tub with lukewarm water and a small amount of delicate-eco-friendly, pH-neutral soap, non-alkaline laundry liquid and mix. Introduce your garment and lightly agitate for three to five minutes and rinse thoroughly.
After rinsing, gently squeeze out excess water.
Never twist or wring out your piece; doing so can damage the fabric.
Lay the wet piece flat onto a clean, absorbent towel and roll it up in the towel to rid of excess moisture. Unroll and repeat using a second dry towel, then lay flat on a drying rack or dry towel, out of direct sunlight. Allow to air dry naturally.
Helpful tips…
If a stained spot occurs; rubbing one area of the fabric can cause a lightening in just that spot. For moderate stains, especially ones in the middle of a pattern, wash the entire garment.
Do not dry clean.
Do not use bleach.
Avoid tumble dry. Tumble-drying is not recommended or needed as it can damage the fabric.
Avoid squeezing Lemon or citrus fruits while wearing your natural dyed garments. Citric juice will act as a natural beach on the garments.
Wash colours separately, particularly for the first wash.
Hand washing with cold water always is better.
Detergent / Soap recommended: eco-friendly pH-neutral/baby mild gentle organic soap, natural soap, delicate wash soap or wool wash soap, liquid presentation is always the best.
Ironing your dress
Iron your items on the lowest setting, preferably while they are slightly damp. Place a clean cloth between the iron and the fabric to prevent direct contact and potential colour transfer. Additionally, opting for professional ironing services can be a great choice.
Storing your dress
Hang your dress to store in an uncrowded fresh and cool place. Padded hangers are great for hanging delicate garments. Use hanging loops if you have them to prevent stretching of the straps.
If you have any further questions please get in touch with our team, you can e-mail studio@andreahawkes.co.uk