How to Wash Embellished Clothes Without Losing a Single Stone
Crystals, pearls and studs set by hand deserve better than a washing machine. A practical care routine that keeps embellished pieces alive for years.
When embellishment is set by hand — one crystal, one pearl, one stud at a time — the piece is closer to jewellery than to a t-shirt. It should last years. Whether it does comes down to five habits.
1. Wash rarely, spot-clean first
Embellished pieces are usually outer layers that touch your skin lightly. Air the piece after wearing and spot-clean marks with a damp cloth before considering a full wash. Most wears don't need one.
2. When you do wash: cold, inside out, by hand
Turn the piece inside out so the embellishment faces away from friction, and hand-wash cold with a gentle detergent. If you must machine-wash, use a mesh bag on the gentlest cycle — but hand-washing is the honest answer.
3. Never tumble-dry
Heat and tumbling are the two fastest ways to lose stones. Press the water out gently in a towel — don't wring — and dry flat in shade.
4. Iron around, not over
Iron inside out on low, and never run the iron across embellishment. For the area around appliqué, hover with steam instead of pressing.
5. Store hanging, with room
Crushed storage grinds embellishment against other clothes. Give pieces like our Butterfly Embellished Shirt or the Embellished Stripe Shirt Dress their own hanger and a finger of space either side.
If something comes loose
Because we set every placement in our own atelier, we can also re-set them. If a stone lifts or a pearl loosens, write to us — repairs on our embellishery are part of what you bought. Read our Shipping & Returns for the details.
