Caring for handmade silk
By Iniya
The kindest care is often the gentlest: a little shade, a little air, and a muslin bag. Handmade silk does not ask for much, but the few things it does ask for, it asks for consistently.
The short version
Keep it out of direct sun, which fades natural dyes faster than any wash ever could. Spot clean rather than soak. Store it folded, not hung, so the weight of the cloth does not pull on a single seam for years on end.
When something spills
Act gently and quickly. Blot — never rub — with a clean, slightly damp cloth, working from the outside of the mark inwards so you do not spread it. Resist the urge to scrub; on silk, friction is the enemy, not the stain.
For anything beyond water, trust a specialist. A good dry cleaner who knows silk is worth more than any home remedy, and far cheaper than replacing a piece you have ruined with vinegar and good intentions.
Storing for the long season
When a piece goes away for a while, give it a muslin bag and a dark drawer. Skip the plastic, which traps moisture and lets nothing breathe. A sprig of dried neem or a cedar block will keep it company and keep the moths away.
Do this, and a silk piece will outlast the trend that made you want it. That is rather the point of buying slowly: to own a few things long enough that they become yours.
