Care & longevity
Wear it well. Keep it longer.
Natural fibres are made to last. How you care for them determines whether they do. A considered approach to washing, drying, and mending extends the life of every piece.
Care by fibre
A note on natural fibres
It is in the nature of linen, cotton and silk to soften, fade, and shift slightly with each wash. This is not deterioration — it is the material becoming itself. A linen shirt worn for years carries a quality that new fabric cannot replicate. Wash with intention, and your pieces will reward you for it.
Cotton & Linen
Machine wash on a gentle cold cycle using a natural, fragrance-free detergent. Avoid softeners and bleach — both break down natural fibres over time. Do not tumble dry.
For hand washing, soak in cold water with a small amount of natural detergent, gently work through the fabric, and rinse thoroughly. Reshape while damp.
Hang to dry in the shade to preserve colour. White garments may be hung in direct sun — sunlight acts as a gentle natural bleach and antibacterial agent.
Silk
Silk requires minimal intervention. Air your silk pieces between wears — most of the time, this is all they need. Hang in an open space, away from direct sunlight.
For spot cleaning, use a moist cloth and work very gently. Avoid friction on the fabric surface. When a full clean is needed, take to a professional dry cleaner. Avoid washing silk at home — water and agitation damage the fibre irreversibly.
Care at a glance
Cold wash
30°C or below. Always our preference.
Hang dry
Lay flat or hang. Never tumble.
Dry clean
Silk only. Never machine wash.
No bleach
Avoid on all natural fibres.
No tumble dry
Heat damages natural fibres permanently.
01
Airing
Before reaching for the wash, try airing. Hang the garment outside or near an open window for a few hours. Most odours and freshness concerns resolve without water. For coloured garments, hang in shade. White pieces benefit from sun.
02
Spot Cleaning
Spot cleaning in the moment is almost always more effective than washing the whole garment later. A small amount of natural soap, cold water, and a clean cloth will remove most marks. Use a soft nail brush for more stubborn spots. Be particularly careful on coloured or delicate pieces — too much friction can leave a lasting mark.
03
Wash Less
The single most effective care decision is washing less frequently. Each wash cycle puts stress on fibres, fades colour, and shortens the life of a garment. Natural fibres — particularly linen and cotton — are more resilient than we tend to give them credit for. Trust them.
On mending
A loose button, a fraying seam, a hem that has dropped — these are not reasons to retire a garment. They are small invitations to extend its life. Mending does not require skill. It requires intention.
Reattach a button
Thread a needle and anchor it with a small stitch where the button will sit. Position the button and sew through each hole several times, keeping tension slightly loose. Wrap the thread around the base to form a shank, then secure on the reverse with a few stitches. Trim.
Mend a seam
Remove any loose thread. Begin sewing approximately 1cm before the break, following the line of the original seam. Extend 1cm beyond the damaged section. Secure with a few small stitches on the inside of the garment. Trim excess thread.
Hem a garment
Fold to the desired length and press with an iron. Pin in place. Using a needle and thread in a matching colour, stitch along the fold with small, even stitches, catching only a thread or two of the fabric face so the stitch remains invisible from the outside. Secure and trim.
When in doubt
Reach out to us. We are happy to advise on care and repair for any UNIKSPACE piece. For more complex work, we recommend finding a local alterations tailor — a trusted relationship with a good tailor is one of the best investments a considered wardrobe can have.
Beyond your wardrobe
A piece you no longer wear deserves a second life.
Even the most considered wardrobes evolve. When a garment has served its time with you, pass it on rather than discard it. Give it to a friend, donate to a local initiative, or offer it to a second-hand platform. Natural fibres are worth keeping in circulation.