Caring for your bespoke garment…
Bespoke clothing is valuable, and we’re not just talking about price. A lot of time and effort goes into designing and fitting the perfect garment for you. As such, it’s important to look after your bespoke clothing right from the start. At Navy or Grey, we believe pride and respect are the two main prerequisites to caring for your garments properly. Despite this, we understand not everyone is born an expert, so we’ve written a guide to show you how to do it right.
live it & love it
Wear it & Wash it
Avoid placing items in your pockets as this will put strain on the seams. Unbutton your suit jacket before you sit down to avoid pulling.
You should aim to dry-clean your garments as little as possible, ideally less than 2 or 3 times a year. If you dry-clean them more than this, the chemicals used in the process may make your garment more susceptible to damage.
Clean & Press
Pockets, lapels and collars should be brushed frequently to remove dirt.
Stains should be blotted immediately and not rubbed.
Creased garments recover well in a humid environment. Hang them somewhere damp and warm, such as a bathroom, or vaporize them lightly with water.
Rest & Recover
Allow your suit to rest; wearing the same suit for two days in succession can cause damage to the fibres.
Maintain the shape of your suit by always hanging your jacket on the appropriate hanger, supporting the shoulders. Always hang your trousers vertically. Follow these basic care instructions to preserve your suit’s longevity.
Store
It’s always best to hang your suit or shirt up when you’re not wearing it. We recommend that you keep an extra hanger in the office and in the car to let your garment rest.
Long working days can be sweaty and sweat isn’t good for delicate fabrics. If you’re especially hot, take it easy to avoid pilling until you’ve found somewhere to cool down. If using deodorant, opt for an aluminium-free formula, otherwise, the armpits of your shirt may yellow over time.
Avoid & Solve
If you know you might end up spilling food on yourself, change into different clothing or order something less volatile. Use a paperclip to keep your collar in shape and try using plastic bread ties as cufflinks if you haven’t got access to the real thing. If you do end up getting a stain on your shirt, try dissolving aspirin or denture cleaner in water. For wrinkles, steam your garment for the best result. Stuck zips are a nightmare, but pencil graphite makes for a great dry lubricant to loosen them up. Take the time to learn how to sew a button on properly, so that you can make minor fixes to your garments yourself.
Stains
As hard as we may try to avoid stains, there are bound to be some mishaps along the way. Here are some common stains and the best ways to remove them. Tomato sauce - scrape off any surface sauce, then mix cold water and washing up liquid and gently blot the area. If this doesn’t work, use white vinegar instead. Blood - Run the garment under cold water and rub the area onto itself. Tea or Coffee - Rinse the stain with white vinegar, peroxide or sparkling water. Oil or grease - Remove any extra oil from the surface with a napkin, then rub baking soda or cornstarch into the stain to draw oil out of the fabric. Next, launder the garment with a heavy-duty detergent. Wine - Blot the stain with sparkling water, to prevent permanent staining, and salt, to help lift the wine from the fabric. Ink - Spray the stained area with rubbing alcohol or aerosol hairspray. Blot the sprayed area, then sponge detergent onto the stain before laundering.