Linen is a living fabric. It softens with every wash, settles into the body over time, and only looks better the longer you keep it. Cared for well, an ELARA piece isn't something you wear out — it's something that comes into its own. Here's how to look after yours.
Washing
Wash linen cold, or at no more than 30°C, on a gentle cycle. Turn pieces inside out, fasten any buttons, and wash with similar colours — ivory and natural tones with the lights, deeper shades on their own for the first few washes.
Use a mild, liquid detergent. Skip the bleach, and skip fabric softener altogether — softener coats the fibres and dulls linen's natural texture and breathability over time. Don't overload the machine; linen likes room to move.
For pieces you've only worn briefly, a gentle hand-wash in cool water is kinder still, and often all they need.
Drying
Air-dry, always. Lay the piece flat or hang it on a padded hanger, smooth it back into shape with your hands while it's damp, and let it dry away from direct sun — strong light can fade natural dyes.
Avoid the tumble dryer. Heat shrinks and stresses linen fibres, and you lose the soft, lived-in drape that makes the fabric what it is. A little patience here is the whole secret.
Ironing & pressing
Linen creases — that's part of its character, and on most of our pieces a soft crease reads as ease, not neglect. If you'd like a crisper finish, iron while the piece is still slightly damp, on a medium-hot setting with steam.
Press on the reverse for darker shades to keep the surface even, and let the piece cool flat before you fold or hang it, so the shape sets. If a garment has dried fully, a quick mist of water brings the fibres back to life before you press.
Storing
Store linen clean and fully dry — even a trace of damp invites mildew, and unseen marks can set over a season. Fold relaxed pieces loosely and give structured ones a wide, padded hanger so the shoulders hold their line.
Let the fabric breathe. Keep pieces in a cool, dry wardrobe, and use a cotton garment bag rather than plastic, which traps moisture. If you're putting a piece away for the warmer months, a sachet of cedar or lavender keeps moths at bay without any chemical scent.
A note on small marks
Treat spills quickly. Blot — never rub — with a clean, damp cloth and a drop of mild detergent, working from the outside of the mark inwards. For anything stubborn, or on a piece you're unsure of, take it to a specialist rather than risk it at home.
The longer you keep it
Linen earns its patina. The hand softens, the colour mellows, the drape becomes yours and no one else's. Look after it gently and an ELARA piece will carry the marks of how it was worn — long lunches, slow afternoons, an endless August — and be all the more beautiful for it.