SHEARLING

 

Shearling is the sheepskin obtained from a young lamb. The wool is shorn to a uniform length, but it is left on the hide, which is tanned with the wool on it. Most shearling coats are water resistant and won’t be damaged if cared for properly, coats that have gotten wet from rain or snow must be dried at room temperature – once they’re dry, water spots are simply brushed off. Store your shearling coat in a dry place when not used as mildew may pose a problem. Shearling coats are not damaged by moths or any type of insect.

Any professional dry-cleaning service will clean your shearling coat and may even remove dirt or stains. However, if your coat has been lightly soiled, you may want to avoid the dry-cleaning bill and do it yourself. Here’s a basic guide that should help you: 

  • As a good rule of thumb, give your shearling coat at least a couple of cleanings a year, so that there’s no dirt buildup. Clean your shearling coat before you store it away in the spring.

  • Use a damp rag to scour off dirty patches or scuff marks on the leather side.

  • The wool side should also be brushed with a dry rag. Tough stains in the wool should be tackled with a clean, damp rag. If rubbing with water is not enough, use a little wool cleaner in the water. That should get rid off harder-to-remove stains.

  • Let your shearling jacket air dry.

  • After washing or spot cleaning, brush the wool gently with a carding brush while still damp. And again once completely dry to encourage original fluffy appearance.

  • Store your shearling coat in a cloth garment bag with a sturdy hanger and let it hang loose and naturally. Or lay it flat in a cardboard box.

  • Do not wash a shearling coat in a washing machine, and do not put it in the dyer. Do not put your shearling coat near a fire or heater as the heat will damage the leather.

 

CASHMERE

 

Cashmere wool comes from cashmere goats’ undercoat that is extremely soft and downy. The undercoat is being protected by an outer layer of wool and is made of fine, soft hairs that protect the goats during the cold winters. It is the undercoat that is being used to make cashmere yarn.

Cashmere goats mainly live in Inner Mongolia, a region that is well known for its climate with cold winters and warm summers. In the spring, the goats are combed or trimmed by hand to extract the soft undercoat. The wool is then being washed and sent to factories to be spun into yarn. It takes about two to four years for a cashmere goat to produce enough wool to knit a cashmere sweater.

Cashmere can last a lifetime if you care for it in the right way. Wash it carefully and remove remaining fibers when necessary. Here are some basic guidelines on how to maintain your cashmere items:

  • MACHINE WASH - You can easily wash your cashmere in a washing machine. Choose the laundry program with short washing and make sure that you do not wash it in water that is warmer than 30 degrees. Use a wool detergent or baby shampoo and do not centrifuge the garment.

  • HAND WASH - You can also wash the garment by hand. Make sure that you do not wash or rinse the garment under running water, just soak it in water colder than 30 degrees and use a wool detergent or baby shampoo and make sure to not wring or stretch the garment.

  • DRYING - Flat dry your cashmere garment after washing. The easiest way to flat dry it, is to lay it on a flat surface with a towel underneath. Make sure that you do not stretch the sweater. Remember to never tumble dry or hang dry your cashmere garments.

  • IRONING & STEAMING - It works perfectly fine to iron your cashmere garments. Just make sure to have the right temperature (max 150 °) when ironing. It also works fine to steam the cashmere garment with a steamer.

  • STORING - We have two basic rules: Do not hang your cashmere garments up for storage. Fold them and store them in a drawer or a storage box. If you are having troubles with moths, put a few cedar balls in the drawer or box and the moths will stay away.

  • PILLING - Pilling is normal and is most often seen in areas exposed to friction. You can easily remove them with a thin comb or by hand. After washing and using the sweater a few times the pilling tends to go away.