Looking after padded and fleece pieces

Good outerwear lasts years if you wash it less and wash it right. This is our general guide. The care label sewn into each piece always comes first — if it says something different, follow the label.

Padded jackets and vests

• Wash only when it is really dirty. Spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap.
• Close every zip and snap, turn it inside out, and wash cold on a gentle cycle with a mild liquid detergent.
• No fabric softener — it flattens the padding.
• Dry it fully. Shake it out every hour or so while it dries so the fill does not clump. Do not tumble dry unless the label allows it.
• Store it hanging and loose, not compressed in a bag.

Fleece and sherpa

• Wash cold, inside out, with similar colours. Fleece attracts lint, so keep it away from towels.
• Skip the softener and the dryer heat; both can mat the pile. Dry flat or on a hanger.
• If the sherpa pile flattens, brush it gently with a soft brush once it is dry.

Shells and softshells

• Dirt and skin oils stop a water-resistant finish from working, so a clean shell repels water better.
• Wash cold with a mild detergent, rinse well, hang to dry.
• When water stops beading on the surface, a wash-in or spray-on water-repellent treatment brings it back.

Knitwear

• Air it between wears instead of washing. Wool blends recover overnight on a chair.
• Hand wash cold or use the wool cycle, press the water out in a towel — never wring — and dry flat to keep the shape.
• Fold, never hang: hangers stretch the shoulders.

Heavy cotton

Tees and sweats: wash cold, inside out, and dry on a hanger. Washed and garment-dyed pieces keep fading slowly — that is the look, and every piece varies a little.

Questions about a specific piece? Write to us.