How to care for silk: a maker's guide

Silk is forgiving if you know its language. Hand-wash in cool water with a pH-neutral detergent, roll in a towel to remove excess moisture, and dry flat in shade. Never wring. Never tumble dry.

Store silk folded rather than hanging, away from direct sunlight. If creases form, steam gently rather than ironing directly. A little lavender sachet in the drawer keeps moths at bay without staining the fibres.

For printed or embroidered silk, spot-test any cleaning method on a scrap first. The dyes we source are fixated to Oeko-Tex standards, but hand-worked embellishments need extra gentleness.