Looking after your Kit
A Shaggy Care Guide
You've got the fresh new clothes, you're super excited, but now what? We've put together a wee care guide to help your items stay in tip top shape, and to minimise our clothes impact on the environment during their lifetime.
60% of clothes produced end up in a landfill within a year, which is shocking. Here at Shaggy our aim is to make clothes that last. The longer our pieces stay with you, the more their environmental impact is offset. So here we are to help you look after your clothes (and the planet) better. Help em' both last longer.
Headwear
How to care for your Lid
Hats are the kind of thing that could go through hundreds of wears before they need a wash (unless you've been sitting in the sun sweating up a storm). The best way to help your favourite hat last for ages its to be a bit kinder during its life.
- Don't wash regularly. Unlike most clothing (and yourself) hats tend to need minimal washing.
- Store out of the sun to prevent unnecessary fading.
- If your hat gets wet, no need to chuck it in the drier. Just place outside in the shade and give it a wee air dry before you put it away.
- Deal to any marks or stains quickly. Give it a light spot clean with cold water and a bit of soap if needed.
- If you've been to the beach, and your hat ends up in the surf (we've been there before) now's the time to wash it. Salt water will do a number on the back clasps if left to sit.
Headwear
Washing your Lid
When it does come time to clean your lid it's a bit more picky than your average T-Shirt, here are the best ways to look after it:
- DO NOT machine wash. Instead, fill up a sink or bucket with cold water and a minimal dash of your best natural laundry powder.
- Mix through the powder then put your hat in to soak. *NOTE* wash your hats one at a time, corduroy especially is known to leak a bit of colour so to prevent any mistakes - keep em' seperate.
- If there are any spots or stains give them a gentle rub with your thumb to work them out.
- Gently work your hat in the bucket/sink to make sure that it's had a good soaking. No need to go overboard.
- Rinse your hat off under cold water, with a light squeeze to get out any soapy residue.
- Reshape it to your preference, pat dry with a towel, and leave in the shade to air dry. Extra handy if there's a light breeze.
T-Shirts and Jumpers
How to care for your clothing
- Wash less often. If it isn't dirty, and you haven't been sweating in it, give it another day. Hang it up to air out before putting it away and it should good to go next time you wear it. This is a double whammy where it helps your clothes last longer (washing is one of the biggest contributors to clothes wearing out), it also cuts the power and laundry powder needed to wash your items.
- Wash on cold. Hot wash cycles use 75% more energy than a cold wash, and also breaks down the dyes and fibres faster.
- Pick a good washing powder. The more harsh chemicals in your powder, the faster it will wear down the fibres. Also, less chemicals is never a bad thing.
- It is tempting to overload the washing machine when you're a week behind on laundry! But don't do it. An overloaded machine is pretty piss poor at cleaning, and all that extra rubbing wears your clothes out faster.
- Wash inside out to protect the screen printing and to limit fading and pilling on the outside.
- Drying your clothes in the shade and a good breeze is far better than risking sun fading! Avoid the dryer where possible, too much energy wasted and the heat isn't good for your kit.
- Spot clean stains ASAP. Wash with cold water and your favourite stain remover. I don't know the stats but I'd assume stains are one of the biggest killers when it comes to your favourite tees!
- If possible, fold and stack your Tees and Hoodies. Hanging up clothing can cause stretching of up to a couple of centimetres due to gravity. Especially handy when storing your warmer bits over summer.