Care Guide
Useful care advice for the luxury fabrics used in Dom&Ruby’s collections
We use a number of natural luxury fibres, fabrics and skins to create our specialist collections each season and would like to provide you with some useful guidelines on the care of our garments.
Cashmere
Natural fibres that are knitted can be handwashed using a natural mild soap or soap powder especially formulated for gentle home care. Woven or tailored items are best drycleaned as they could lose their body in a handwash
All cleansers should be throroughly dissolved and rinsed carefully from the knitwear on the final rinse until the water is clear. Avoid heavy wringing dry of the article; it is best to gently squeeze excess water out then roll into a towel to absorb any remaining water before laying flat to dry, away from direct heat and sun.
It is always advisable to keep knitwear away from moths by using mothballs, cedar rings or storing in plastic bags where possible. Moths love used cashmere, so it is recommended to wash after 6-7 wears to keep them looking their best
Pilling (bobbles that accumulate on the surface) is generally caused through friction of some sort. These can be very carefully cut of with a fine cashmere comb before washing.
Silk
Irregularities and variations in weave are characteristic to silk and not a defect. Silk should be drycleaned in the main, but some softer washed silks can be gently washed in cool water with a mild detergent, rinsed well again in cold water and then hung or laid flat to dry in shade and away from direct heat or sun. silk can easily fade in sunlight. If they require pressing, iron on the reverse side on a gently heat .
Silks that have not been pre-washed can shrink a little and some silks , if the label tells you, can be washed on mild handwash machine cycle. Always look on the care label for specific instructions.
Leather, Suede & shearlings
Again irregularities in these natural skins are a feature of the garment and prove authenticity and add to their charm. Our leather &suede garments are buttersoft and should be a snug fit on purchase as they can give on wear. All our skins are used as a by-product of food for human consumption with no ill treatment of animals.
Shearlings are generally cut a little looser to allow for winter garments being worn underneath.
These are luxury products which should be specialist drycleaned only infrequently. A tiny percentage of natural oils are lost on each clean and they really do not need cleaning if cared for properly at all frequently. Ensure you use a specialist drycleaner
To remove everyday dirt from smooth leathers a damp sponge may be used to wipe it gently. Ground in dirt should be cleaned professionally.
Alcohol/food and blood stains can also be lightly dabbed with a water –dampened cloth to stop the stain from setting. Use a suede block to gently rub away stronger marks. Do not apply strong pressure on suedes.
Oil/grease marks are the enemy, but if unavoidable some ground chalk dust (blackboard variety is fine) can be sprinkled on the spot, left to absorb for 24 hours and then gently rubbed awat using a suede brush/block or a piece of suede/leather in the same colour.
Adhesive tags are also the enemy and should be avoided completely as marks will not be removable
When wet simply hang on a sturdy preferably wooden hanger to keep the shape and leave to dry in a room temperature away from heat or sunlight. Then brush up or blowdry fur with a hairdryer to fluff up. Your garment will remain soft to the touch
Suede or leather garments can be scotchguarded as an additional precaution if required and leather can be nourished and further softened using a leather cream rubbed gently in circular motions and left for 24 hours to absorb and dry
Dom&Ruby offer these notes as guidelines for care, and accept no liability for any damage incurred by individuals treating their garments