Certainly, there is a change in the consciousness of people now. We have started taking our small steps toward sustainable ways of living that include opting for handmade cloth, choosing upcycled product range, going organic and many more.
While sustainable living comes with all the positives it takes a small effort to have consistency in this lifestyle. Being a handmade clothing brand that brings women apparel range we get many queries regarding the handling of handcrafted collections. Considering the concern around handcrafted fabric and limited information available online, in this article we are sharing a brief about handloom and some tips for the easy maintaining of your cloth, with the aim that It’ll bring awareness about handmade clothing.
About Handwoven Fabric
Handwoven fabric is crafted on the handloom with the long process starting from warping to weaving. The basic steps of the product:
- Yarn unfolding: Weaving thread know as the yarn is untangled and managed in a synchronized way
- Sizing: The process of strengthening the quality of yarn through coating and finishing
- Warping: Threads are arranged parallel manner, known as warping
- On the Loom: On longitudinal and horizontal arrangement that is known as warp and weft, threads are arranged. The interaction of threads arranged in warp and weft leads to the formation of handwoven fabric. The process is called weaving
- Quality Check: After weaving the yardage go through quality check that includes checking of color and tearing
- Packaging: Once the fabric is made proper folding is done so it can go the vendors easily.
In handloom production include different process done manually by artisans. Each step required expertise to manage the process. The personal care and attention reflect in the warmth of each handcrafted fabric. The manual slow process makes handloom stress free and odor-free. The fabric may have certain irregularities as crafted by hand and we should consider its very nature of handloom fabric instead of finding imperfection in the same.
To manage the quality of handmade cloth here are some suggestion:
- Hand washes: Hand wash is always preferred for handcrafted cloths. Machine wash is a mechanical and fast process that doesn’t suit to the arrangement of handcrafted textiles. As handloom has always been handled with care, the maintenance can’t depend on a mechanical and rough process
- Separate wash: No chemical color fixer is used while dyeing the yarn that is used to make the fabric that may lead to some bleeding at initial wash due to which It is suggested to wash handmade cloth separately.
- Coldwater wash: It is suggested to wash the handmade cloth with cold water using mild detergent. Hot water may lead to color bleeding or color degradation of the cloth.
- Dry cloth in soft sunlight: Soft sunlight of early morning or later of the day is perfect to dry handmade cloths. Harsh sun rays may lead to color degradation and fading.
- Frequency of wash: We suggest a less frequent wash for handmade cloth, instead try to optimize the frequency of wash. Due to breathing space and high absorbing capacity handloom cloth doesn’t create body odor, so wash it when they are dirty or used multiple times.
- Ironing: Iron handmade cloth immediately after drying. Un pressed clothes get wrinkled easily that may take some effort to smooth later on. To avoid the extra process, It is suggested to keep them ironed
- Folding and arrangement: Arrange your handmade clothes on the hanger and avoid to have multiple folds. In the case of Silk and Chanderi fabric, clothes may pull apart if kept on the same fold for many years.
It takes time and personal discovery to create your own style and If you express that style with handmade clothes, It brings all together a new kind of statement.. Something earthy and confident, sophisticated and humble.
Handcrafted products and handmade clothes are classic that never get old and never go wrong. With some care and love, you can enhance the durability of your classic wardrobe.
You can check our handmade cloth at bebaakstudio.com. It is authentically crafted by the indigenous and humble artisans of Chhattisgarh.