How to make your clothes last longer: a simple care guide

By Shivaan Seth, Founder

We make our basics to last well past wash 30. But how you wash and store them matters just as much as how they are made. Treat a good piece right and it stays good for years. Here is everything we have learned, kept simple.

The three rules that matter most

If you remember nothing else, remember these: wash cold, air dry, iron low. Heat is what wears clothes out fastest, in the machine, the dryer and under the iron. Keep things cool and gentle and you have already won most of the battle.

Six habits that add years

1. Turn them inside out Cuts friction on the outer face, keeps colour deep, protects prints.	2. Don't overfill the washer Clothes need room to move. A packed machine means more friction and faster wear.
3. Skip softener on stretch fabrics It coats elastic fibres and breaks them down over time.	4. Fold knitwear, don't hang Gravity permanently stretches the shoulders of hung knits.
5. Wash similar weights together Heavy items like jeans can pill lighter tees through friction.	6. Reshape while damp Smooth knits and tees back into shape; they set as they dry.

Care by fabric

Fabric	Wash	Dry	Note
Cotton blend	Cold, gentle	Air dry	Skip fabric softener
Cotton modal blend	Cold, inside out	Air dry flat	Wash with similar weights
Heavy cotton	Cold, gentle	Air dry, reshape	Tumble low is fine
Fleece	Cold, inside out	Low tumble or air	Don't iron the brushed inner

Why it is worth the effort

Caring for what you own is the single most effective thing any of us can do to lower fashion's footprint. Every extra wear is one less thing made and thrown away. A basic that lasts five years instead of one is five times kinder to the planet, and a lot cheaper for you too.

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop my t-shirts from fading?

Wash cold, turn them inside out, and skip the dryer. Colour fades fastest in heat and harsh sun, so keeping things cool protects it.

Should I use fabric softener?

Not on anything with stretch. Softener coats elastic fibres and breaks them down, shortening the life of the garment. Stretch fabrics do not need it.

How do I keep knitwear from stretching out?

Fold it and stack it instead of hanging, and reshape it while damp. Hanging lets gravity pull the shoulders out of shape over time.

For fabric-by-fabric detail, see our garment care guide, or read why we obsess over this in what makes a basic actually good.

Shivaan