Environmental concerns are driving us all to multiply sustainable practices, particularly in the fashion world, where the negative impact on the environment is regularly pointed out.
Factor analysis shows that ethical dressing is essentially based on 2 fundamentals: making responsible choices from the moment you buy your clothes, and knowing how to care for them to prolong their lifespan.
The good resolutions of the beginning of the year are often associated with the freezing temperatures …and what better antidote to the cold than cashmere? A noble and high quality fabric, special attention needs to be paid to it. The cashmere jumper is a long-term clothing investment which, to be profitable, must be associated with good care practices. Even if a quality garment naturally has a better resistance to wear and tear compared to a fast fashion item, the ecological footprint will only be totally positive if it is treated with the utmost care. Three times more insulating than a woolen top, the little cashmere jumper fits into any look with good taste: the more you wear it, the more you want to wear it! Blending aesthetic sensitivity and ethical concerns, here are a few tips to effectively fight against its premature wear and tear.
How to wash a cashmere jumper?
Dry-cleaning at the dry cleaner’s is forbidden! Cashmere is a natural material that loves water. Contrary to popular belief, it can be washed in the washing machine provided it is placed in a protective net, choose a cold wash programme (special wool programme) and never exceed 30°. Have a light hand on the amount of detergent and don’t use fabric softener (it is naturally soft, it doesn’t need it). Adjust the spin cycle between 400 and 600 rounds maximum, if you wish to preserve the properties of the fibres for a long time.
Hand washing instructions are the same: lukewarm water free of softener, a quick dip without prolonged soaking, gentle spin-drying so as not to damage the structure of the weave. Do not twist it at the risk of felting the material, simply place it in a terry towel and dab it gently to absorb the excess water.
How do I lay it out?
Forget clothes pegs and vertical hanging, prefer to dry flat, away from any source of heat, whether electric or natural. If, despite all the care taken in drying, it requires a little ironing, iron it on the reverse side, using a slightly hot iron with plenty of steam.
How to avoid getting pilling?
The quality of a cashmere jumper depends on the raw material used during spinning. The longer and finer the pile of the goat’s down, the tighter the weave, the less likely it is to pilling. It should be noted, however, that new cashmere often sheds an excess of raw fabric; only successive washes will remove the excess cashmere used during the manufacturing process, which is the main source of pilling. If the pilling is caused by the regular rubbing of certain areas, do not pull on the stitches, but rather use a suitable textile razor instead of your fingers.
How to fold and store it?
A cashmere pullover should not be hung up. It can be folded and stored flat in a protective cover made of natural material, away from light, in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Textile articles are particularly gluttonous in natural resources, which is the main reason for choosing pieces that are as durable as they are timeless. Fighting against the hyper-consumption of clothes also means knowing how to adopt daily reflexes that ensure the longevity of our favourite fabrics: refer to the instructions on the labels, respect the washing recommendations, do not overuse the tumble dryer… because each small and simple gesture is a support to the great cause of protecting our planet!