Knowing how to care for your shirts is paramount to the longevity of the garment at hand. Not only does proper care result in the shirt always looking clean and crisp, it affords you a more professional appearance. Your shirts will always last longer and look their absolute best when you maintain a proper care regimen for them. Whether you wear your shirt for work or play, it will always look perfect when you follow these care instructions.
Washing Tips
Most importantly, you always want to wash your new shirt before you wear it, especially if it is not a bespoke garment. This not only removes any toxic chemicals from the fabric (because these are always present in ready-to-wear garments), but the fabric will also feel softer as a result. Additionally, in order to preserve the color of the fabric, machine wash your shirt in cold water.
Never dry-clean your shirt. Dry cleaners use a fluid loaded with chemicals that can destroy you’re the fabric of your shirts or, at the very least, will cause the fabric to yellow when continually dry cleaned. If you do take your shirts to the dry cleaners, have them laundered and not dry cleaned. Also, avoid starching the shirts when having them pressed (or if you iron them at home). This causes the fibers in the fabric to weaken, especially in bespoke or custom tailored shirts.
Finally, avoid “lifting” the color from your shirts by separating them according to their colors – i.e. whites, light colors, and dark colors. To whiten your white shirts, add bleach to the wash water. However, you will want to avoid any bleach with your light or dark colored shirts.
Ironing Tips
Body of the Shirt – When ironing the torso of your shirt, begin at the shoulders and then iron down towards the ends of the shirt. Start with the left panel of the torso then proceed with the right panel. This enables you to keep each side of the shirt ironed well. Remember to use the tip of the steam iron to press in between the buttons.
Collars – always start from the underside of the collar. Ironing away from the collar points towards the neck is recommended. Then turn the shirt over and repeat the process following the same method.
Cuffs – iron the cuffs just like you did the collar, starting with them inside out. Lay the sleeves flat and iron from the cuffs up towards the shoulders. Turn the sleeves over and then repeat the process.
Yokes – start from the neck of the shirt and iron outwards toward the center of your shirt. If there are pleats present, iron them flat first by ironing in the same direction that the pleat folds run.
Care and Storing Tips
First and foremost, never use wire hangers when hanging up your shirt as it will destroy the shape, especially if it is a custom tailored (bespoke) shirt. Use either thick plastic or wooden hangers instead. This prevents those unsightly bumps in the fabric from occurring if the hanger has thicker, firm shoulders.
If you store your shirts based on the season, always make sure that they are washed and pressed before packing them up. Plastic storage cases that hang, allowing your shirts to hang as well, are recommended. This will prevent insect damage (moths and the like) as well as protect them from absorbing any odors.
Avoid anti-perspirant or cologne stains by applying these to your body and allowing them to dry before putting on your shirt. If a stain occurs, wash your shirt immediately to avoid permanent staining of the fabric. Always check for these types (and other types) of stains and clean them out before you press your shirts.
Finally, you always want to check your shirts for any damage or needed repairs. It is recommended that you always look for loose threads or buttons that are loose. Never pull a renegade thread. Cut it with a pair of scissors as close to the fabric as possible. If a button loosens, re-sew it onto the fabric if you are able to. Otherwise, take it to a seamstress or professional tailor to do this.
About Green and Jack's Bespoke Shirt Maker
Green and Jack's is a bespoke shirt maker based in London. Green and Jack's combines traditional hand tailoring techniques with three step easy ordering process to create high quality bespoke shirts. Perfect fit guarantee ensures free alterations.
Visit the Green and Jack's online store to purchase bespoke shirts from £79 plus free shipping within the UK or £5 delivery to the USA and Western Europe.
You can create your own look at www.greenandjacks.com
About Green and Jack’s Bespoke Shirt Maker
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