Shopping
Read fabric and care labels together
Fabric names tell only part of the story. Construction, thickness and care requirements influence whether a garment fits your everyday life.
01
Start with the use
Decide whether you need softness, structure, stretch or easy washing. A structured jacket and a weekend tee have different jobs. Avoid treating any fibre as automatically good or bad; composition alone cannot tell you comfort, drape or durability.
02
Look at construction
Inspect seams, hems and areas that will carry tension. Hold the fabric up to light to check opacity, and gently move it to observe recovery. For online purchases, look for close-ups and care information rather than inferring quality from a polished photograph.
03
Price the care burden
Check whether the label requires hand washing, flat drying or professional cleaning. Consider the space and time you can actually offer. A delicate piece bought for daily wear may cost more in attention than a pricier easy-care alternative.
04
Keep a personal record
After several wears and washes following the label, note changes in shape, feel and surface. Use that record when shopping again. Your experience with one garment is evidence about that garment, not a guarantee about every product using the same fibre.