A bespoke suit is a masterpiece that a lot is needed to care for it. It is recommended that you wear a suit at least twice a week and only dry-clean it once or twice a year.
However, these constraints are not economical or even practiced since what you wear will likely become dirty even if you seldom wear it. Since dry-cleaning options are limited, interim cleaning options, such as handwashing, may be time-consuming. Top designers have developed a new concept of washable suits to enable you to effectively clean your suit and maintain its shape, luster, and hue for a long time.
The Design of Washable Suits
Conventionally, suits are made from wool fabrics. Other suit parts can be made from cupro, modal, cotton, lyocell, woolen felt, viscose, silk, or fine polyester. When you expose the fabrics to water, high temperature, or other forces of tension such as fast-spinning, the fabrics can shrink at different rates, and you will end up ruining the suit’s structure.
This is the reason why dry cleaning is recommended for designer suits. The systematic process uses duty chambers/drums for cleaning suits. The process entails spraying a gently tumbling stream of air containing non-water solvents cleaning solutions such as perc or petroleum spirits. The complicated process is not economical, and that’s why an alternative suit design offers a reprieve for fashion dandies.
A washable suit uses fabrics that do not shrink when cleaned in a washing machine. Some of these fabrics can be adopted for the lapel or lining, and it ensures that the primary fabric is not stretched in the cleaning process. One of the most common design concepts for washable suits is to make the lining oversized to allow the main fabric to contract or expand.
Advantages of a Washable suit
- It saves you dry-cleaning money
- Allows you to be flexible hence convenient
- There is no noticeable difference with the traditional suit
- It is long-lasting with proper care
Other attributes of these suits include:
- Water repellency
- Stretchability in warp and weft designs of the fabric
Popular Styles for Washable Suits
- Single Breasted Suit
- Double Breasted Suit
- Single Vent Suit
- Double Vent
- No Vent
- Notch Lapel
- Slim Fit Suit
- Shawl Lapel
- Classic Fit Suit
- Peak Lapel
- Modern Fit Suit
How To Clean the Suit
1. Place the suit in the washing machine after turning it inside out
This technic reduces the impact of water pressure and the reaction of cleaning solution on the main outward fabric. Since washing organically leads to the deterioration of a fabric’s hue and luster, your suit will start fading from the inside.
2. Select the appropriate detergent
A liquid rather than a powder detergent is ideal for an even wash. The detergent of choice should not contain enzymes that attack the fabric resulting in its alteration. You need to take what type of fabric you have into account; for instance, if you are washing cupro fabric, you may want to look right here to see how to best go about this, so you do not wreck your clothing.
3. Select a short, gentle wash
The timer on your washer should not exceed 30 minutes. Don’t select the spin function. This will make the cleaning session gentler and more effective. Also, ensure that the water is at room temperature to avoid wrinkling the suit.
4. Air Dry Your Suit in a Shade
Even with your suit inside out, you should air dry it at room temperature. This will maintain the temperature of the wet suit from the washer and prevent wrinkles.
5. Iron at low heat
After your suit is dry, you should iron it as needed to remove any wrinkles. Ensure that the iron temperature is low. Straighten your suit on an ironing board. Put a thick, preferably, woolen cloth under it, and use a steam setting to remove the wrinkles. Be gentle and ensure that the iron plate is clean.
Conclusion
The fabric is the primary consideration for a washable suit. The best couturier can design a suit with traditional aesthetics and allure but with the functionality of a modern garment. A gentle wash in mild conditions can maintain the luster of your suit for years.
Featured Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels.com
