How to take care of fall’s trendiest fabrics
Navigating fall/winter trends can be daunting enough without having to stress about cleaning and caring for those cold-weather staples in the face of unpredictable weather. From boho-chic suede to luxurious velvet, read more for how to prep, clean and take care of the season’s most stylish (and trickiest) fabrics.
Leather
There’s nary a season on fashion’s calendar that doesn’t include a bit of leather. And while you know to spray your knee-high boots before heading outside, are you doing the same with your new pencil skirt or cross-body bag? Depending on how often you wear the item in question, David Mesquita, of New York City’s premium leather service shop The Leather Spa, says you should be spraying with a water repellent once every few weeks, to seal the pores of the leather. If your leather gets wet and dirty, let it dry, he says, and then clean with a leather shampoo as soon as possible, followed by a leather conditioner.
As for your leather Louboutins or buttery nappa jacket, take heed: a regular shoe shop or dry-cleaner might not quite know how to treat these pricey pieces. “Usually the more expensive the item, the more delicate the leather,” Mesquita explains, so it’s best to stick to a leather expert.
Mesquita also recommends a bit of practicality when it comes to leather. “Always ask yourself, ‘is it worth it to wear it in this weather, just to look good?’”
Suede
Leather may be classic and badass, but suede is the sophisticated sibling, finding its way all over this season’s runways and probably into your closet. But how do you take care of it?
First, check the weather. A post-work downpour can wreak havoc on that new suede mini, but a few droplets of moisture can be eradicated using a handy suede brush and eraser, says Mesquita. Suede is made from the underside of goat or lambskin, and the fibres are like little hairs on open pores, so “the smart thing to do is clean and treat it as soon as possible,” Mesquita recommends.
Velvet
Velvet is not for the wallflower or sensually-disinclined. The plush fabric sashayed down many a fall runway and is now a mainstay as the days grow shorter. But as you navigate street style blogs and Pinterest for a little velvet inspo, keep in mind the soft fabric may need some special care.
Though most synthetic velvet is made with rayon, polyester, or nylon, authentic velvet is made with silk (thus, priced accordingly), and requires a bit more than a hurried cold hand wash in the sink. New York-based The Launderess advises that velvet be spot cleaned and then dabbed with a dry cloth to absorb any water – but not before doing a water-test on the underside of the garment, along the seam, just in case.
Wool
The northern hemisphere’s harsh winter sees a good chunk of the population swaddled in wool, but moisture can really take a toll on those much-loved sweaters, hats and coats.
Nicole Sibonney, the founder of Toronto’s Americo Original, says the key to preserving wool is to take care of it immediately.
“Unfortunately with everyone being so busy, some tend to just put away all their winter wool stuff and only decide to wash the items when it is time to wear them again,” she said. Instead, wool should be cleaned and placed into dry storage when not being worn. Sibonney, whose company specializes in natural fibers from South America, recommends washing wool with a natural detergent, either by hand or on a delicate cycle, and then rolling the garment in a towel to gently squeeze out moisture. For those in a rush, she says a quick blast of cool air in the dryer can add some fluff to wool with no harm.
Sibonney also swears by The Gleener, a tool used to remove pesky pills and fuzz from sweaters and knits, though a drugstore razor can work as well.
For larger or bulkier items, like a coat, The Launderess recommends placing the item in a mesh bag before putting it in the washing machine, on a cold delicate cycle.
