A Detailed Guide for Caring and Maintaining Different Kinds of Fabrics
Fashion fabrics play a significant role in our everyday lives, encompassing everything from the clothing we choose to wear to the furnishings that adorn our homes. Each type of cloth needs a precise amount of maintenance to keep it looking beautiful and lasting a long time. Because many of the most exquisite materials and designs are genuinely hand-crafted, they require rigorous upkeep in order to be worn on multiple occasions. Of course, there are no general guidelines for "fabric maintenance"; there would be specific directions to follow depending on the raw material, how it was spun, woven, and stitched, and what sort of work was done on it.
Types of High-Maintenance Fabrics
The majority of India's traditional textiles require a lot of care. The directions are simple to follow, but they must be carefully followed to guarantee that the fashion fabrics beauty and elegance are kept and the colours stay vibrant.
- Embroidered Fabrics
In embroidered fashion fabrics, the fabric's surface is covered in fine threadwork. Mishandling might result in the colors bleeding and the threads fraying or coming free. certain factors make dry cleaning the preferred method of maintaining certain materials. By first washing a tiny portion of the clothing, one can also decide the course of maintenance. Ideal hand washing for them would involve lukewarm water and gentle hand motions. The best choice is to dry clean the item if the embroidery or color begins to tear or leak, or if the base fabric is a delicate one like silk or satin fabric.
- Woven Silks
These are handwoven utilizing unique processes and techniques that give the weavers a great deal of control over the process. From the delicate Banarasi silk to the superb Tussar and Jacquard silks, India has a wide variety of woven silks. Carefully keeping an eye on the water temperature, washing motions, and chemicals employed. With woven silks, the drying and storing procedure is equally crucial. Weaved silks are simple to maintain because they can be cleaned in cold water with a moderate detergent. The best course of action, nevertheless, is to have them dry-cleaned after each usage.
- Modern/Contemporary Textiles
These include contemporary fashion fabrics like georgette, chiffon, and crepe as well as vintage western materials like velvet, net, and tissue that have only recently found their way into Indian fashion. The level of upkeep varies greatly and is significantly influenced by the cost of the fabric.
Maintenance of Each Fashion Fabric
Each type of fashion fabric or textile requires a different type of maintenance. This is a short guide to understand each of them:
- Chiffon
Chiffon is available in a wide range of variations. The most fragile and lovely fabric is pure chiffon, which should be washed by a dry cleaner. Using only the gentlest hand motions, crepe chiffon can be hand-washed. As moisture might cause the garment to lose its shape, it should be dried as soon as possible. Only a mild, cold water setting can be used to wash poly or fake chiffon in a washing machine.
- Georgette
Since georgette is less fragile than chiffon, it does not require frequent trips to the dry cleaners. Again, the purest forms of silk require the greatest degree of care, and the easiest method to do this is to dry clean these items of clothing. However, fake varieties can be cleaned in a washing machine using cold water. Even when hand-washing faux georgette, it is best to use lukewarm water and just mild detergent. Given that sunlight is damaging to this fabric, it should be air-dried.
- Net
One of the market's more delicate sheer materials is net. As a result, it is frequently adorned with sequins, stones, beads, and patchwork. Therefore, if one does not know what to watch out for, keeping it can be difficult. Hand-washing faux and blended net with a mild detergent is an option. As an alternative, you can wash them in the washing machine and rinse them gently. Dry cleaning is the ideal method for maintaining pure net clothing, since it reduces the likelihood of tearing the delicate fashion fabric or destroying the design work.
- Velvet
Velvet dresses are extravagant and costly and they require special maintenance. Only 'dry clean' is allowed for many types, however, a few can be washed at home. The item should be washed inside out in a sink of cold water, carefully patted dry, and then hung up to dry. It wrinkles readily, so only the back should be ironed with a low-heat iron on a flat surface with padding.
- Satin
Satin fabric is incredibly delicate and is normally dry-cleaned. Depending on the type, it is feasible to wash and iron at home. The imitation varieties can be air-dried after being cleaned with cold water and a little detergent because they are more resilient. The use of a press cloth and steam ironing are both strictly forbidden.
- Rayon/Nylon/Polyester
Although rayon should ideally be hand washed and line dried, nylon and polyester can also be machine washed on a mild setting due to their relative strength. Only ironing should be done on the back of items or with a press cloth.
Wrapping Up
If you want your materials to last, you must properly care for them. You may increase the lifespan of your clothing and textiles while still taking pleasure in their beauty and comfort by adhering to these tips and spending time on maintenance. You should adjust your cleaning procedures to meet the particular requirements of your clothing and home furnishings because every fashion fabric type is different. The House of Textiles brings you a wide variety of fashion fabrics online and you can
