The Cotton Care Guide

While the below are best practices for our items, and cotton items generally, each piece can vary based on its exact fabric composition and construction, so it's best to check and item's care label to be sure!

We've been there—you just spilled wine, sauce, oil, you name it, on your shirt. Avoid stains on your cotton clothing from lasting by treating them immediately, lightly dabbing the area with cold water or with a solvent suitable for cotton fabrics. Avoid direct heat as that will set the stain. Avoid bleach, especially when dealing with coloured clothes, and opt for a non-toxic alternative.

A washing machine puts 90% of its energy toward hot water. Washing your cotton garments and bedding in cold water will put less stress on the planet, your utility bill, and the fibres of your cotton items.

Cotton fabrics naturally shrink and expand by 1-2% with regular wash and wear. We suggest machine washing in cool water rather than warm water to best keep their shape. Wash your cotton clothes with like colours and inside out to best preserve their hues and the garment's outer surface.

For everyday laundry, we recommend using just 1/2 to 2/3 of the detergent amount suggested on the packaging, as we often overestimate how much is needed. Opt for a natural or non-toxic detergent pod or strip instead of the single-use plastic containers and chemical-ridden solutions on the market.

High-quality pieces made up of organic cotton or long-staple Egyptian cotton varieties, like ours, are soft from the start and don't require fabric softener. If you still want to go that route, explore natural alternatives to chemical fabric softeners, like adding half a cup of baking soda to your laundry's rinse cycle or wool dryer balls if machine drying.

Air drying is the best way to prolong the life of your garment. As cotton is a natural fibre, it's more prone to shrinking than synthetic materials. Air drying will reduce the chance of shrinkage and put less stress on the garment's fibres than high temperatures will, allowing it to stay in better shape for longer. It also reduces your energy consumption and environmental footprint—so it's truly a win, win.

Once washed, give your garment a shake to reduce wrinkles forming, and lay it flat to dry on a clean surface. For stiffer garments, like woven shirting or trousers, you can gently pull on the garment to flatten the fabric and its seams and hang it to dry. If you opt to dry your pieces outside, we suggest keeping them out of the sun, as that can fade their colour.

For those who prefer the dryer or don't have space to air dry more oversized items, like bedding, make sure to tumble dry at low heat. Low temperatures and a slower dryer cycle will reduce friction and help to keep the piece's integrity.

Using steam will help to smooth the fibres of cotton garments. Soft knitted clothes, like T-shirts and sweatshirts, can be gently steamed to remove wrinkles after washing or wearing. Rigid and woven fabrics, like shirting, trousers or bedding, can be steamed or ironed using the damp or steam setting on the iron.