Care Guide

Banarasi & Kanjivaram Silk

The heavyweights. Woven with zari and real silk threads, these are the pieces that get passed down. Treat them accordingly.

Dry clean only — never attempt a home wash. Water, heat, and detergent can strip the zari and cause irreversible water marks.
After wearing, air out before folding. Never store while damp.
Iron on the lowest setting with a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the fabric. No steam.
Wrap in pure muslin or soft cotton — never plastic, which traps moisture and causes mildew.
Refold every few months along different lines to prevent permanent crease damage.
Store flat if possible, or hang on a padded hanger for lehengas and heavy dupattas.

Tussar Silk

Natural, textured, with a warm golden tone. Lighter than Banarasi but just as particular about how it's handled.

Hand wash carefully in cold water with a mild shampoo or silk-specific detergent — or dry clean if you prefer to be safe.
Do not soak. Rinse gently and press water out with a towel — never wring.
Dry flat in the shade. Direct sun will fade the colour quickly.
Iron on low heat from the reverse side. A pressing cloth helps.
Store in muslin cloth. Tussar breathes; give it room to do so.

Tissue & Organza

Sheer, stiff, luminous — tissue holds its shape beautifully but is unforgiving with water. It is one of the few fabrics where dry cleaning is not a preference, it is a requirement.

Dry clean only. Water causes permanent stains and loss of stiffness on tissue fabric.
Never fold along embroidery or embellishment lines — it cracks the thread over time.
Store rolled in acid-free tissue paper, or draped over a padded hanger.
Keep out of direct sunlight — the sheen fades faster than you'd expect.
If ironing is necessary, use the lowest heat setting with a pressing cloth. Never iron directly.

Chanderi

From Madhya Pradesh — a silk-cotton blend that has the delicacy of silk and the wearability of cotton. One of the most beloved everyday-occasion fabrics in Indian wear.

Dry clean for the first two or three washes to set the finish and preserve the sheen.
After that, gentle hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent works well. Do not soak.
Rinse thoroughly, gently press out water, and dry flat in the shade.
Iron from the reverse side on medium heat. Place a thin cloth over any printed or embroidered areas.
Store in muslin. Fold with tissue paper between layers to reduce crease lines.

Georgette & Chiffon

Light, draped, and always in motion — georgette and chiffon are the fabrics of dupattas, flowy kurtas, and layered lehengas. They dry quickly and need very little ironing if handled right.

Hand wash in cool water with a very mild detergent. Avoid hot water — it weakens the fibres and distorts the drape.
Do not wring. Gently press out water with a towel and hang to dry immediately.
Never hang chiffon while soaking wet — the weight causes it to stretch permanently.
Iron on the lowest heat setting, using a pressing cloth for printed pieces.
Store away from direct sunlight — colours on georgette and chiffon fade faster than on heavier fabrics.

Cotton, Khadi & Linen

The everyday workhorses. These are the fabrics that get better with wear — khadi especially. They ask the least of you and give the most back.

Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water. Mild detergent is enough.
Wash dark and deeply dyed pieces separately for the first few washes to prevent colour transfer.
Avoid fabric softener on block-printed or hand-dyed cottons — it dulls the print over time.
Air dry flat or on a line in the shade. Tumble drying shrinks and roughens the weave.
Iron while slightly damp on medium-high heat for a clean, crisp finish. Linen especially needs this.
Khadi does not need to be washed after every wear — it breathes and does not retain odour easily.

Crepe & Rayon

Soft, fluid, and easy to wear — crepe and rayon are commonly used in kurtas and everyday pieces. They look polished with minimal effort.

Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent, or machine wash on a delicate cycle.
Do not wring — lay flat or hang to dry away from direct sun.
Iron on medium heat with a pressing cloth. Crepe can shine or distort under a hot iron.
Store in a cool, dry place. Rayon weakens in prolonged humidity, so avoid damp wardrobes.

Velvet & Brocade

Reserved for the most special occasions — and they deserve to be treated like it all year round, not just when you're wearing them.

Dry clean only. Both velvet and brocade use metallic threads and dense pile that cannot withstand home washing.
Never iron velvet directly — the pile will flatten permanently. Steam from a distance or use a velvet board.
For brocade, iron on the lowest setting with a thick pressing cloth. Metallic threads melt under high heat.
Hang velvet garments — folding crushes the pile. Use a padded hanger and cover with a garment bag.
Store brocade flat with tissue paper between folds to protect the weave.

Net & Sheer Fabrics

Used in layered lehengas, borders, and embellished dupattas. Delicate but not impossible to care for.

Hand wash very gently in cold water, or dry clean if the piece is embroidered or embellished.
Lay flat to dry — never hang net while wet as it stretches under its own weight.
Iron on the lowest setting with a pressing cloth. Net scorches easily.
Store flat or rolled in tissue paper to prevent snagging on other fabrics.

Embroidered & Heavily Embellished Pieces

Zardosi, katdana, sequins, mirror work — these details are the soul of the garment and the first thing that suffers when not cared for correctly.

Always dry clean. Water loosens the adhesive and thread tension holding embellishments in place.
Never fold along embroidery lines. The thread cracks over repeated folding at the same point.
Store flat wrapped in soft muslin, with a layer of tissue paper over the embroidery surface.
Check before storage for any loose threads or falling embellishments — small repairs done early prevent larger damage.
When ironing is unavoidable, place the garment face-down on a padded towel and press from the reverse only.

General Storage — For Everything

Store in breathable muslin or cotton bags. Plastic traps moisture and causes mildew, yellowing, and odour.
Place a small neem sachet, dried lavender, or cedar block in your wardrobe to protect against moths and silverfish. Avoid mothballs directly on fabric — the chemicals stain.
Air all ethnic wear every few months, especially silks and heavily woven pieces.
Refold stored garments along different lines every few months — permanent creases form where folds are repeated in the same place.
Hang heavy lehengas, sarees, and shararas — don't stack them. The weight of folded fabric strains embroidery and seams.
Keep your wardrobe dry. A small desiccant sachet in humid months does a great deal.
When in doubt about any fabric, dry clean. The cost of a dry clean is always less than the cost of replacing a piece you love.