Your embroidered ethnic wear is more than just clothing — it's a piece of craftsmanship. Whether it's a hand-embroidered gown for a festive evening or a delicate cord set for a family gathering, proper care ensures your pieces stay as beautiful as the day you first wore them.
Washing Your Embroidered Pieces
The golden rule: always hand wash embroidered ethnic wear. Machine washing — even on gentle cycles — can snag threads, distort embroidery, and cause irreversible damage to delicate motifs.
- Use cold water (below 30°C) to prevent colour bleeding and fabric shrinkage.
- Choose a mild detergent — look for ones specifically formulated for delicates or silk. Avoid harsh detergents with bleach or enzymes.
- Turn the garment inside out before washing to protect the embroidery surface.
- Soak for no more than 10 minutes, then gently squeeze — never wring or twist.
- Rinse thoroughly in cold water until all soap residue is removed.
Drying Without Damage
- Lay the garment flat on a clean, dry towel and roll it up gently to absorb excess water.
- Never hang embroidered gowns when wet — the weight of water can stretch the fabric and distort the embroidery placement.
- Dry in shade, away from direct sunlight. UV rays fade colours and weaken delicate threads over time.
- Allow to air dry completely before storing.
Ironing and Steaming
- Never iron directly on embroidery. Always place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the garment.
- Use a low to medium heat setting and iron on the reverse side of the fabric.
- A garment steamer is the safest option for embroidered pieces — it removes wrinkles without direct contact or pressure.
- For heavily embroidered sections, hold the steamer 2–3 cm away and let the steam do the work.
Stain Removal Tips
Act quickly — the sooner you treat a stain, the better the outcome.
- Blot, don't rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and can damage embroidery threads.
- For food or oil stains: apply a small amount of mild dish soap diluted in water, blot gently, then rinse.
- For makeup stains: use a cotton swab dipped in micellar water and dab carefully.
- When in doubt, take the garment to a trusted dry cleaner who specialises in ethnic wear.
Storing Your Ethnic Wear the Right Way
- Fold, don't hang heavily embroidered gowns for long-term storage — hanging can cause the fabric to stretch.
- Wrap each piece in muslin or soft cotton cloth to protect embroidery from friction and dust.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture and direct light.
- Add neem leaves or cedar blocks to deter insects naturally — avoid mothballs, which can leave chemical odours and damage delicate fabrics.
- For cord sets, store the top and bottom together, wrapped as a set, to avoid mismatching.
Dry Cleaning: When to Go Professional
Some pieces — particularly heavily embellished gowns with zari, mirror work, or multi-layered embroidery — are best left to professionals. Dry clean after every 3–4 wears, or immediately after a special occasion where the garment was exposed to sweat, perfume, or food.
With the right care, your Saffrron pieces will remain heirloom-worthy for years to come. Explore our embroidered gown collection and cord sets — crafted to be cherished.