Ethnic wear — especially anything hand-embroidered, block-printed or naturally dyed — rewards a bit more care than machine-made everyday clothing, and most of it is genuinely simple once it’s a habit.
Always check the care label before the first wash, but as a general rule: hand-wash naturally dyed and block-printed pieces separately in cold water for at least the first two or three washes, since natural dyes can release a small amount of colour early on even when properly set. After that, they typically stabilise.
Skip the harsh detergent. A mild, pH-neutral detergent (or even a mild shampoo for delicate hand-embroidered pieces) is gentler on both dyes and thread work than standard laundry detergent, which is often formulated for tougher synthetic fabrics.
Dry in shade, not direct sun. Direct sunlight fades natural dyes and can weaken embroidery thread over time — a shaded, well-ventilated spot dries clothes just as effectively without the fading.
Store embroidered pieces flat or loosely folded, ideally wrapped in muslin cloth rather than plastic, which can trap moisture. If you’re hanging a heavily embroidered piece, use a padded hanger — sharp hanger edges can, over months, stress and eventually tear delicate threadwork at the shoulder seam.
Iron on the reverse side, on a low-to-medium setting, especially over any embroidery or print — this protects the surface detail from direct heat contact and keeps colours from dulling.
A little extra care at home is really the only difference between an ethnic piece that looks tired after one season and one that becomes a genuine wardrobe staple for years — exactly what we design our Fashion collection to be.