Make your clothes last: Washing
We try to make clothes as sustainable as possible, meanwhile we are completely with Vivian Westwood when she said: " Buy less, choose well, make it last!"
The best you can do for the environment is wear the clothes that you have. Which is why we have such high standards at Lilly Ingenhoven, we want to make sure that our clothes will last many many season. Another key role in this is washing. The less you wash your clothes, the longer they will last and the better for the environment! Decreasing the temperature will decrease Co2 emissions and save energy. So here are a few guidelines as to how you can clean your clothes in a more sustainable way.
("When we look at clothing overall, we consistently find the greatest environmental impact of a garment over its entire life is not in its production, transport or disposal, but in its use by the consumer - washing, drying and ironing.")
Eco friendly detergent and avoid using bleach.
Less Energy=
-Air dry rather than tumble dry, better for your clothes and save a lot of energy. tumble dryers remain enormously energy intensive.
-fill your washing machine completely, avoid washing a half full load.
-Wash at 30 Degrees.
-Simply wash less
Chiffon and Washing Silk
Hand-washing is usually considered the best method for removing stains or smells from chiffon and washing silk. Fill a sink with cool water and add some laundry detergent. Please avoid using very chemical mixtures as they might harm the materials. Drown the piece and try to evenly distribute the soap-water with your hands. Soak for about to 20-30 minutes. Rinse well by running cool water through the item until the water does not seem soapy anymore. To keep the material from yellowing we recommend adding 1⁄2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water. Please do not wring, as the material is very sensitive and this will cause damage. Instead, press the water out of the item for example with a towel. If you prefer washing with the machine we recommend the following tipps. Try turning the piece inside out and putting it into a mesh. Select the lowest spin speed (or if you have a delicate cycle) and temperature. For drying try hanging the piece on a rag and if wrinkles appeal try steaming.
Satin
Select the lowest spin on the washing machine (or again a delicate cycle). Start the machine on the lowest temperature. Washing Satin does not need much time and therefore try washing satin items with other ones. If the Satin is Silk based please follow our recommendations for Chiffon and Washing Silk. Check the label to determine whether the satin is derived from silk. Satin clothing is usually thin, which allows it to air dry quickly. Try hanging it on a rag or using a steamer. If the satin needs to go through the dryer, it's important to use either a tumble dry option or the low heat setting.