TAKING CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES,
WE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
How to nurture and care for the coat?
Let’s refresh, renew and repair
Coats and jackets, as outerwear, are particularly vulnerable to external and mechanical factors. Moisture, dirt, precipitation and repeated folding, snagging and friction mean that, without proper care, a coat will lose its aesthetic and functional qualities. Proper care of a coat significantly extends its lifespan, ensures it looks its best and enhances comfort. As well as proper care, it is equally important to hang your coat on a hanger, unfasten it whilst travelling by car, air it out and store it correctly. Remember that seemingly small things have a huge impact on the appearance and durability of your coat. Proper care, combined with respect for your clothes and looking after them, will not only mean you enjoy them for longer, but will also help protect the environment.
Here are a few tips and advice on how to freshen up, restore and repair coats so that you can enjoy them for longer.
How to care for woollen coats and coats containing wool
Pilling is a natural process that occurs when wearing woollen coats. Contrary to the common belief that wool does not pill and that the more expensive the coat, the lower the risk of pilling, even purchasing a very exclusive product will not guarantee that you will avoid this phenomenon. The reason is simple – wool does pill.
Cashmere? It pills. Merino wool? It pills. Angora? It pills, and how! Wool simply loves to pill because, under normal wear and tear – friction and rubbing – the silky fibres break free from the fabric and become tangled into small, fuzzy balls. Loosely twisted yarn makes it even easier for the woolly fluff to come loose. What some see as a drawback, others find to be an advantage. That’s why woollen coats, or with a wool blend, you should brush it regularly. Brush for cleaning and care of the coat prevents pilling and releases natural oils that refresh the fabric. Brush your clothes thoroughly, especially in areas where the fabric is frequently touched – such as under the arms – and where it comes into contact with your handbag. The brush will remove impurities from the surface of your coat, such as pet hair, human hair, lint, dust, etc. It will also ‘combe out’ the fabric fibres beautifully giving the coat a fresh new look. Particular attention should be paid to the direction in which the coat is brushed. Always brush from top to bottom and in the direction of the arrow on the brush head. Brushing ‘against the grain’ may damage the fabric fibres. The rotating cleaning surface means the brush can be used by both right- and left-handed people, and also allows you to quickly clean a coat you are already wearing.
Wool is stunningly charming and keeps you warm too – that’s why we love it. So let’s look after it every day and use a brush to keep it looking flawless and significantly extend the service life clothes made from it.
Steaming restores the wool’s natural lustre, smooths out creases and refreshes the coat’s appearance. Move the steamer over the garment in long, slow strokes so that the steam penetrates the fabric, smoothing out creases and lifting the wool fibres. In addition, once the coat has been steamed, you can brush it out. PamRemember to keep a safe distance so as not to damage the fabric. The care instructions supplied with the product advise you on how best to look after your clothes – so always read them carefully.
Regular airing woollens coats It helps to keep them fresh and significantly extends their lifespan. Simply hang your coat outside or by a window for a few hours and let it air out in the fresh air to naturally refresh your clothes whilst protecting the environment. Air-drying also eliminates the distinctive odour that wool can have, particularly when damp.
Wool has highly hygroscopic properties. Wool fibres do not absorb water, but allow water vapour to pass through. The surface of the fibre is covered with scales which act as a barrier to water, making it water-resistant. At the same time, the fibre absorbs moisture into its core and then allows it to evaporate. As a result, despite absorbing moisture, the surface of the wool remains dry whilst retaining its thermal properties.
This means that rain or snow won’t damage your woollen coat. However, it’s not advisable to let it get constantly soaked. Where possible, avoid getting your coat thoroughly soaked. However, if you do get caught in a downpour, hang your coat on a hanger and leave it to dry. It should always be left to dry at room temperature. Wool coats should not be dried on a radiator or with a tumble dryer. Intensive drying at high temperatures can damage the coat. Wearing a coat that is not completely dry will cause it to wear out prematurely. Every day, whilst in use, the fabric of the coat absorbs such a large amount of moisture that it takes at least 24 hours for it to evaporate. Your coat will retain its attractive appearance and thermal properties for longer if you take breaks from wearing it to allow it to dry thoroughly. Wearing the same coat every day without allowing it to air dry will cause it to wear out prematurely.
If you want your coat to look as good as new for a long time, don’t just throw it down or leave it lying around. Dragging and rubbing damage the surface of the fabric it’s made from. This not only causes the coat to lose its shape, but also allows more dirt to get in. Hanging it by the sewn-in loop is also not the right way to do it. Under the weight of the coat itself and from sudden tugs when hanging it up or taking it down, the seams may tear, and unnecessary creases may form as a result of the strain on the fabric. The coat should be hung on a contoured, wide hanger – this will prevent distortion, creases and dirt.
A button or press stud can be sewn back on – you don’t need to be a professional to manage it
- Thread the needle and tie both ends of the thread into a knot.
- Insert the needle where you want to sew on the button or snap fastener, starting from the inside of the coat, and pull the thread through the button. When sewing the button onto the coat, remember to leave a gap between the button and the coat. This space is needed to create a loop beneath the button, which will make it easier to fasten the coat and prevent the fabric from stretching once fastened. To do this, slide a match or toothpick between the button and the fabric, and only then gently pull the thread tight. Fasten it securely so that it lies flat – a match won’t be needed here.
- Sew on the button by threading the needle through all the buttonholes and all the layers of the coat in turn. Try to insert the needle into the underside of the coat at a single point so that it looks neat. Once the button is securely fastened, remove the match and wrap the thread tightly around it several times beneath the button to form a loop underneath.
- Next, to further secure the button and prevent it from coming loose, try to pass the needle through the stitch you’ve made so as to tighten the loop around it. Finally, insert the needle from above beneath the stitch you’ve created and secure the seam from the left-hand side of the coat. For example, you could make two loops, pull the thread through them and tighten it securely, or, in the traditional way, cut the thread and tie a double knot with the ends. All done!
The right size
Choosing the right size coat has a significant impact on how long it will last.
Buying a coat that is too small will cause such a degree of stress, bending, stretching and pulling that it will ruin the condition of the lining. The high-quality, strong and durable threads used in the coat’s manufacture will, in such a case, cause the lining to be cut and frayed. So, if you plan to wear a jacket or a very thick jumper under your coat, bear this in mind when choosing the right size. Allow enough room for the clothes you’ll be wearing underneath the coat.
When you feel a slight tightness (whether around the bust or hips), the button can easily be moved to create a little more space and relieve any discomfort or unnatural tension. Any unnatural tension causes the coat to become misshapen, thereby shortening its lifespan.
When wearing a very fitted coat, do remember to unbutton it whenever you sit down (e.g. in a car, on a bus or in a waiting room). This will minimise the strain on the lining and outer fabric and prevent damage to your coat.
Using your coat for its intended purpose and in the appropriate season will extend its lifespan.
Storage
Proper storage is important. At the end of the season, have your coat dry-cleaned, hang it on a suitably shaped, wide hanger, pack it carefully into a bag (cloth or plastic) and put it away in your wardrobe. That’s the whole secret 🙂