HOW TO : Care For Your Marlow
Here at Marlow a lot of love, attention and craftsmanship goes into creating our garments. The way it is cherished and cared for will be the true measure of its long and beautiful life. Sustainable garment care is fundamental to our ethos at Marlow; we want our pieces to be loved season after season to stand the test of time. With the right amount of care, our Marlow products should last for years to come. Sustainable garment care starts with how often you wear it, how often you wash it, store it and finally how you dispose of it. This is a huge step that you can take to reduce your individual impact on the environment.
Below we share our top tips for caring for your Marlow pieces :
How often should I wash my Marlow knitwear?
The breathable nature of the natural fibres used in all of our knits mean they can be washed much less frequently. We encourage you to treasure your Marlow knitwear with as much love that went into creating it. This means you shouldn’t have to wash your knits too often! We encourage you to air them out by lying flat on a rack or towel overnight to dispel any odours - this will keep them feeling fresh between washes.
For best results washing Marlow knitwear we recommend to turn inside out and gently hand wash in warm water with a knitwear specific wash detergent. To dry its best not to ring the garment but to roll in a towel and squeeze out any excess water then reshape and lay flat in the shade, or on a drying rack to dry.
How often should I wash my Marlow activewear?
Marlow activewear garments are made from fabrics that are hard-working, durable, sweat-wicking, lightweight, breathable and often antimicrobial. To get the best out of your garments we suggest that if you have done high-intensity exercise, you should wash your activewear immediately after you have done a sweaty workout. This ensures that you clean the bacteria off your clothes and prevents them from smelling. Our antimicrobial finishes in our active yarns will help maintain the integrity of your garment for longer. For best results we recommend that you don't let garments sit in the dirty laundry damp for too long as this can impact on the longevity of your garment. When washing your activewear, we highly recommend not using cold water detergents as they are harsh and fade colour. Instead, wash your activewear inside out, in a garment bag, on a cold/warm delicate cycle with similar colours. Never wash with towels or jeans as they can cause fluffing and abrasion.
However, if you have done low impact exercise or have simply worn your activewear throughout the day, we suggest you avoid heavy washing - a light rinse will often be enough to refresh your garment due to our antimicrobial yarns. Every time we wash our clothes, the heat and detergent slowly breaks down the fabric and can often cause it to fade or lose its shape. Instead, we recommend using a garment spray that will deter the odour and give your activewear a fresh, clean feeling.
How important is it to separate colours when washing?
Extremely important! Separating your colours from your blacks and your whites, is crucial in protecting the colour of your clothes. We often hear that people think that activewear is the exception, however, it is not. Always separate your colours. This will prevent any discolouration, fading or staining.
When washing your more delicate Marlow knitwear, always cold/warm hand wash with similar colours, in order to protect the fabric and keep them beautiful and soft.
What detergent should I be washing my Marlow with?
There isn’t a huge difference in effectiveness between powdered and liquid detergents, so it’s really a matter of what you prefer. We do highly recommend avoiding cold water detergents as they are harsh and fade colour We suggest using a natural washing detergent that does not contain phthalates, phosphates, and non-biodegradable surfactants. Avoiding these chemicals will make your wash as healthy for your skin and the run-off water as possible.
If you plan to wash your Marlow wool, cashmere, or silk, make sure your detergent is enzyme-free. Enzymes attack these natural fibres, causing the fabric to erode over time. Avoid cold water detergents as they strip colour and are harsh on garments.
Am I able to use fabric softener or bleach when washing my Marlow?
We recommend that you don’t. Avoiding bleach is fairly straightforward - harsh detergents like bleach will compromise the technical features of the fabrics and de-colourise your beautiful Marlow pieces. Avoid softeners as well, as they are harsh on the fabric and will alter the feel and purpose of your clothing.
What cycle should I use when washing my Marlow?
We suggest that all customers check the washing care instruction tag on the inside of their garment. If you’re using a washing machine, then always wash using a garment bag and use a cold or warm delicate cycle. This ensures their durability and avoids loss of colour.
Hand washing knitwear individually is our recommendation for best results and longevity of your garment
How should I dry my Marlow?
We cannot stress this enough - If you want your clothes to last, avoid the drier. The drier may be more efficient but it often does more damage than good, especially for your Marlow knitwear and activewear. Your Marlow activewear are made from complex fabrics and the high heat from the drier breaks down the elasticity and eventually destroys the fabric. Our knitwear is made from super soft delicate fabric that will shrink in the drier, so instead we suggest you dry flat in the shade, do not put near the direct sun or heated towel rails as this may distort the knit structure. Do not ring or twist your knitwear.
Is ironing safe for my Marlow?
We recommend that customers avoid ironing and our preferred method is to steam garments. A lot of our Marlow pieces are delicate and made from soft fabrics that will get ruined by the heat from an iron. Steaming is far gentler on your Marlow as the heat of the device doesn’t come into direct contact with the fabric. The only time we recommend ironing over steaming is when the wrinkles cannot be removed with steam alone, but please ALWAYS check your tag inside the clothing for instructions.
What should I do when I’m finished with my Marlow?
We want our pieces to have a long life. If you are no longer wanting your Marlow, we recommend that our customers return the items back to us to be recycled at our factory and go towards creating new garments. Alternatively, if an item is still wearable, perhaps give it to a friend, donate it to a thrift shop, or repurpose it. This gives the clothes a second life and allows the garment life cycle to begin again
However, if your Marlow is no longer wearable, we suggest that you recycle it. This doesn’t mean dumping it in your nearest second-hand bin, as the clothing in these bins often ends up in landfill. The fibres in most clothing take a long while to break down and sadly, could end up sitting in landfill, taking 200 years to decompose. At Marlow, we want to prevent this. Instead, find a centre in your city that recycles textiles to ensure zero-waste recycling.
Have a question?
If you would like to know more about the aftercare of your Marlow products, please contact our customer service team, we are here to help - online@marlownz.com
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