Handlooms in India are more than just fabrics, they are living traditions woven with stories, skill and sentiment. Every state has its own handloom tradition Paithani from Maharashtra, Bandhani from Gujarat & Rajasthan, Chikankari from Lucknow, Kasavu from Kerala, Mysore Silk from Karnataka, Pochampally Ikkat from Telangana, Muga Silk from Assam and several others. However, these fabrics are often seen as delicate and difficult to maintain, making many of us hesitant to wear handlooms more often. Preserving these handloom traditions begins at home – with the right washing practices to ensure their longevity. Maneesh Sharma, Head of Washing Machines at Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group shares a few simple, fabric-friendly wash tips to help you care for your beloved handloom clothing.
Understand and sort the fabrics before your wash
Handlooms are diverse- each has its distinct weave, yarn count and dyeing technique – and most of them require gentle care. Understanding the textile is the first step toward preserving its texture and sheen. Always refer to garment care label, as all handloom fabrics may not be suitable for machine wash, especially the ones with intricate work on them or tend to bleed colour.
Avoid overloading the drum
Handlooms need space to move freely during washing. Overloading leads to tangling, creasing and excessive abrasion. Wash handloom garments separately or with similar lightweight fabrics. Giving them adequate room reduces stress on the yarns and preserves the garment’s natural structures.
Use normal water temperature and mild detergent while washing handlooms
Heat can weaken natural fibres and cause shrinkage or fading of the colours in your handwoven clothing. Always use normal temperature water between 20-25°C. Most strong detergents and bleach are too harsh on handloom fabrics, therefore a mild detergent is a better choice for preserving the colours and fibres of your handloom textiles.
When washing your handlooms, always choose a gentle-wash feature
When washing your clothes, always choose the gentle wash mode. Minimising agitation is essential to protect the delicate weaving of handwoven fabrics and ensure they are treated with care. Opt for a washing machine equipped with a handloom friendly gentle-care program. Ideally the washing machine should be tested for handloom wash and ensure it’s designed to clean a wide range of handloom fabrics with utmost care.
Care during drying is as important as the wash
Avoid wringing or twisting the garment to remove excess water, as this can distort the weave and strain delicate fibres. Instead opt for a gentle spin cycle in a front-load washing machines which operates at lower RPMs to carefully remove excess moisture without damaging the fabric structure. Once washed always dry handlooms in a shaded, well-ventilated area. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause colours to fade and weaken the fabric structures over time, diminishing the longevity of these loved handlooms.
As caring for handlooms becomes simpler and more reliable with tested and proven technologies, these handlooms need not just be admired but can be worn more often with the pride they deserve.
