Fabric & care
How to not ruin a handloom saree
More handloom is lost in one careless wash than in ten years of wearing. Each fabric below wants something slightly different — find yours, or check the care note on the product page, which shows the guide for that exact cloth.
Natural Dyes & Hand Block Print
Vegetable and mineral dyes are alive in a way chemical dyes are not. Treated gently they soften and deepen for years.
How to wash it
- Dry-clean for the first two or three washes if you can — it is the safest start.
- After that, hand-wash alone in cold water using a mild, pH-neutral liquid detergent.
- Soak for no longer than five minutes, and never with other garments.
- Squeeze water out gently by pressing; do not wring or twist.
- Dry flat or on a line in shade, inside out.
- Iron on medium heat from the reverse side, with a thin cotton cloth in between.
What will ruin it
- Never use harsh commercial detergents, bleach, or any whitener — natural dyes will strip.
- Never soak in hot water.
- Never dry in direct sunlight; UV lifts plant colour faster than washing does.
- Do not machine wash or tumble dry.
- Avoid spraying perfume or deodorant directly onto the fabric.
A note on colour
Naturally dyed cloth bleeds a little on the first wash. That is the dye settling, not the dye failing. Wash the piece alone, add a spoon of rock salt to the first soak, and it will stop.