As firm believers in buying better and wearing more, we've teamed up with our friends at Kair to show you how to look after your delicate KITRI styles, so you can rewear them season after season.⁠

⁠It’s easy to wash knitwear and delicates and avoid the dreaded shrinkage if you know how. So we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide and top tips to keep your pieces in prime condition. Read on!

STEP 1: Always check the fabric content first. If your garment contains a mixture of fibres, follow the instructions for the more delicate fabric (for example, wools, silks and satins).

STEP 2: Use specialist, gentle detergents, such as Kair’s Wool, Silk and Delicates Wash. Avoid traditional enzyme-based ones (these will degrade the protein in natural fibres like wool).

STEP 3: Speedy spot-treat. If there are any small stains, spot-treat that one area to avoid a full spin. Simply dilute some of Kair’s Wool, Silk and Delicates Wash in cool water and gently work it into the affected area using a clean cloth, then dab away the residue with another clean, wet cloth. Continue to dampen the cloth with cool water as necessary until the stain disappears.

STEP 4: Choose the right wash. Most knitwear and delicate items can safely be machine washed (unless they’re heavily embellished) - just be sure to select the wool or hand wash cycle (low temperature, short cycle, gentle spin), and always use a mesh laundry bag.

Hand wash pieces which are either embellished, embroidered, beaded or sequined. Simply submerge them in cool water (no more than 30ºC), then use gentle movements to swish the items through soapy water, pushing the fabric either between your hands or against the edge of the tub.

STEP 5: Take your garment out of the drum immediately after washing to reduce wrinkling and creasing, then gently soak up any excess moisture with a towel to speed up the drying process.

STEP 6: Reshape your knitwear while still damp, then leave to dry on a flat surface in its natural shape. For other delicate items, simply hang dry indoors, away from direct sunlight.

TIP #1: Always keep it cool and gentle: cold wash, short cycle, gentle spin, gentle detergents.

TIP #2: Always use a mesh laundry bag when machine washing for protection inside the drum.

TIP #3: Don’t fear colour run when hand washing your knitwear: while the yarn dye releases a little colour, it won’t have any noticeable effect on the colour of your garment.

TIP #4: Avoid scrubbing or wringing, which can stretch and alter the shape of the item.

TIP #5: Never hang wet knitwear to dry. Avoid tumble drying and direct heat sources like sunlight or radiators at all costs, as these can damage and shrink the fibres.

Be careful when storing your knitwear! If you hang it, the shoulders will likely become misshapen. Instead, carefully fold away your pieces and store them in a dresser or on a wardrobe shelf. If you’re putting them away for the summer, pop them in an airtight container (though be sure to avoid cardboard, which moths love and will happily munch through).

Hang your delicate items with care. With silks and satins in particular, we recommend using a padded hanger, to avoid misshaping and prevent stretching. When hanging in general, always use wide, rounded hangers, which will support the weight of your delicates, and make sure each garment hangs straight and without touching the floor. You can also use a garment bag or clothes cover for extra protection. If there are embellishments like beading, or detailing like frills, cover or wrap them with acid-free tissue paper, leaving enough room to let them breathe.

If you want your pieces to live on and on, don’t wash them after every wash: check whether they’re actually dirty first. To keep them fresh between washes, spot-treat where necessary and give your garments space to air, and give your pieces a regular spritz of finishing spray (we recommend cedarwood-scented ones, which double as a natural moth-repellent).

Besides cool washes, avoiding tumble drying, and only washing when absolutely necessary. We recommend using a Guppyfriend Wash Bag when washing polyester-containing styles. These have a super soft surface to reduce fibre losses and help your pieces last longer, and also capture microfibres inside the bag to prevent them from entering into rivers and oceans.