Fabric & Care

One of the reasons why cotton is so popular is that it’s low maintenance. This all-time favorite fabric is fully machine-washable and if worn and treated with care, it will last for a long time. On that note, always lay your cotton sweater flat on a drying rack or a towel. Avoid hanging as this may cause stretching and bumps.

Wash jeans inside out to stop them from fading. Take them out of the washing machine as soon as possible after the program has ended to avoid creasing. Denim’s characteristic look is the result of a special dyeing method that can result in dry-bleeding, where small pigment particles remain on the surface and can rub off. This can be lessened by washing your new jeans in cold water a couple of times before you put them on.

Leather and suede are natural materials and can be sensitive. So make sure to keep them away from humidity, heat and chemicals. Before wearing your leather Catwalk Junkie treasure, don’t forget to weatherproof it with a teeny tiny spritz of leather protectant. It also needs to be conditioned every once in a while to keep it soft and supple. When wet allow to dry naturally at a normal room temperature and away from direct heat. To get rid of light stains, wipe the garment with a slightly damp cloth. If this doesn’t work, consider taking your leather or suede piece to a professional cleaning service. This does require specialist knowledge though. So make sure you bring your pieces to a dry cleaner who specializes in leather goods.

Linen is incredibly durable if you take good care of it. When washing linen, set your machine to a low temperature and a gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent to protect the fibers. Linen is a natural material and can easily loose its shape when wet. You can restore your linen Catwalk Junkie treasure(s) to its original shape by ironing it with a good quality steam iron on the reverse side or use a quality steamer. You can find our favorite hand steamer from the Steamery here.

Polyester is a super-resistant and ultra-versatile fiber. It’s also super low-maintenance and, hooray, resistant to stretching, shrinking and wrinkles. Easily washed, quickly dried. It does have a tendency to pill. If this happens, remove pills with a pill remover to shave knotted fibers away from the surface of your Catwalk Junkie treasure. You can find our Pilo Fabric shaver here.

Silk is a super delicate fabric and should be treated as such. Sometimes dry cleaning is the only recommended option. If the garment is washable, use cold water and a gentle detergent. You can find our Delicate Laundry Detergent here. Oh, and wash silk items only with similar colors to help avoid color run. Stretching the garment while it’s still wet is a big ‘no-go’ and definitely skip the dryer as it will most likely damage and shrink the fabric.

After a swim, rinse your bikini or swimsuit in cold water to remove salt or chlorine. Preferably wash it by hand with a gentle detergent. If you do wash your swimwear in the machine, use a laundry bag and make sure to go with a hand wash setting and a mild detergent. Remove detachable cords prior to any washing. Don’t let it dry in direct sunlight to preserve the color. And while it may be tempting, never wring out your swimwear, as this may damage the fibers. Last but not least: watch out for rough surfaces such as pool corners and slides since these might scratch your favorite bikini.

Super-feminine viscose is a gentle fabric that may shrink during washing. But the good news is that most centimeters easily come back when you iron it with hot steam into shape and length. Simply wearing your Catwalk Junkie treasure helps too. Also, be extra careful to pull and twist your garment when it’s still wet as this can cause permanent stretch out.

As always, let the care label be your guide. Wool is naturally stain, crease and odor resistant so it requires less washing. Try airing and spot cleaning first. Good for you, good for your garment and good for the planet. When the time has come to really wash your woolen Catwalk Junkie treasure, you can either wash it in a washing machine on a special wool or hand wash cycle or, even better, wash it by hand. In any case use a gentle detergent.

Don’t wring woolen clothes and always dry them flat to avoid stretching the wool fibers. Ironing after washing helps to restore the material’s natural sheen. We recommend to use a pressing cloth and the wool setting on good quality steam iron. Furthermore, wool has a tendency to pill. If this happens, remove pills with a pill remover to shave knotted fibers away from the surface of your Catwalk Junkie treasure. You can find our Pilo Fabric shaver here. Chunky knits should be reshaped and dried lying flat to maintain their original shape.