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Care guide: Clothing

Silk

Silk is a light and resilient natural fiber that repeats colors beautifully. It’s essential that your silk garment is loose enough to prevent seams from fraying.

Assess the need for washing

A silk garment may not always need washing; airing can help refresh it for the next time you wear it. Dirt weakens fibers and can leave permanent marks, so it’s best to wash a stained garment as soon as possible.

Correct washing

The proper washing method can be checked from the care label attached to the product. For silk garments that can be washed, Marimekko recommends hand washing.

Handwash

Before washing, turn the garment inside out. Wash your silk garment separately in plenty of cool water. Do not rub or wring the product during washing. Use a detergent that’s made for silk.

241 Maija Unikko silk shirt
241 Maija Unikko silk shirt

Drying

It’s advisable to straighten silk garments after washing and dry them on a hanger or flat on a towel.

After washing

The smoothness and shine of silk can be restored by ironing or steaming. Ironing and steaming also help the product to reshape, but a slight shrinkage after washing is normal for silk products.

Storing

Store silk garments on a hanger in an airy space, away from the sun. Silk may attract textile pests, so make sure that garments that are stored for a long time are clean and airy.

Chemicals

Chemicals can leave marks on delicate silk garments. Avoid spraying perfume, cosmetics, or hair products directly on the garments or otherwise contacting them—allow the chemicals to dry before putting on silk garments.