Care Instructions
The clothes on Mekora aren't mass-produced. They're made in small batches by independent Vietnamese designers who put real craft into what they make. That means each piece deserves a little more attention than your average fast fashion buy — and with the right care, it'll last you years.
This guide covers the essentials. But always check the care label and the product page first — specific instructions for your piece take priority over anything here.
A Note on Handcrafted Pieces
Small variations in stitching, fabric texture, or print placement are normal in handcrafted, small-batch garments. They're not defects — they're a sign of how the piece was made. Treat them as part of what makes it yours.
Washing
The golden rule: cold water, gentle handling.
Most Mekora pieces do best with a hand wash or a gentle machine cycle in cold water. Hot water causes fabric to shrink, colours to bleed, and fibres to break down faster than they should.
Hand washing
Fill a basin with cool water, add a small amount of mild detergent, and gently agitate the garment. Don't scrub or wring. Rinse thoroughly and press out excess water gently.
Machine washing
If you're using a machine, use the delicate or gentle cycle with cold water. Turn the garment inside out, especially for printed or embellished pieces. Use a mesh laundry bag if you have one.
What to avoid:
- •Harsh detergents, bleach, or fabric softener with strong chemicals
- •Hot water cycles
- •Overloading the machine (your delicates need room to move)
Fabric-Specific Care
Silk
Silk is luxurious and a little demanding — treat it accordingly.
- •Wash: Hand wash only in cool water with a gentle, silk-safe detergent. Avoid soaking.
- •Dry: Lay flat on a clean towel or hang on a padded hanger. Keep out of direct sunlight — silk fades.
- •Iron: If needed, use the lowest heat setting and iron inside-out with a pressing cloth. Steam is your best friend for silk — a garment steamer is gentler and safer than an iron.
- •Avoid: Machine washing, tumble drying, direct sunlight for extended periods, and spraying perfume or deodorant directly on silk.
Linen
Linen softens beautifully with wear and washing — it's meant to be lived in.
- •Wash: Hand wash or gentle machine cycle in cool water. Linen can handle a little more than silk, but cold water still keeps it from shrinking.
- •Dry: Air dry flat or on a hanger. Linen wrinkles easily — shake it out before hanging to reduce creasing.
- •Iron: Linen irons best slightly damp. Use a medium heat setting and iron inside-out for any printed pieces. Steam works well too.
- •Avoid: Tumble drying (it shrinks and weakens the fibres), harsh detergents, and wringing.
Cotton
Cotton is the most forgiving of the lot, but still worth treating with care.
- •Wash: Hand wash or gentle machine cycle in cold water. Dark cotton should be washed separately for the first few washes to prevent colour bleed.
- •Dry: Air dry flat or hang. Cotton can handle a little more sun than silk or linen, but avoid prolonged exposure to keep colours true.
- •Iron: Medium heat, inside-out for printed pieces. Cotton takes an iron well.
- •Avoid: Hot water and tumble drying for anything structured or fitted — it can distort the shape.
Blended Fabrics
Blends vary by composition — a silk-cotton blend behaves differently to a linen-viscose mix. When in doubt, treat the blend according to the most delicate fibre in it (e.g. if it's 40% silk, treat it like silk).
- •Check the product page for specific fabric composition and care notes.
Drying
Always air dry.
Tumble drying is the fastest way to ruin a good piece — it causes shrinkage, weakens fibres, and can permanently distort shape, especially in silk and linen.
- •Flat dry — lay the garment flat on a clean towel or drying rack. Best for knits and anything that might stretch out of shape on a hanger.
- •Hang dry — use a padded or wide hanger for structured pieces to maintain the shoulder shape. Avoid wire hangers.
- •Out of direct sunlight — especially for silk and dark colours. UV fades fabric over time.
Ironing
When in doubt: low heat, inside-out.
- •Turn printed, embellished, or delicate pieces inside-out before ironing — this protects the surface from direct contact with the iron plate.
- •For silk: use a garment steamer if you have one. It's gentler than an iron and reduces the risk of heat damage or shine marks.
- •For linen: iron slightly damp for best results.
- •For cotton: medium heat is fine for plain cotton; turn printed pieces inside-out.
- •Always check the care label — some finishes and embellishments are heat-sensitive.
Colour Care
Colours last longer with a little care at the start.
- •Wash dark colours separately for the first 2–3 washes. Dark fabrics — especially deep navy, black, and rich earth tones — can bleed when new.
- •Cold water preserves colour. Hot water causes dyes to break down faster.
- •Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during drying, especially for saturated or dark colours.
- •Turn garments inside-out before washing to protect the outer surface.
Storage
How you store a piece is just as important as how you wash it.
- •Hang structured pieces — blazers, tailored dresses, and anything with defined shoulders should be hung on proper hangers to maintain their shape.
- •Fold knits — knitwear stored on a hanger will stretch out over time. Fold and store flat in a drawer or on a shelf.
- •Breathable garment bags — for pieces you don't wear every week, a breathable (not plastic) garment bag keeps dust off without trapping moisture. This is especially important for silk.
- •Cool, dry, and dark — avoid storing clothes in direct sunlight or damp spaces.
- •Give pieces room to breathe — overcrowded wardrobes cause creasing and can distort shape over time.
Jewellery & Accessories Care
For Mekora accessories — jewellery, bags, and similar pieces — keep it simple:
- •Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth after wearing. For stubborn marks, use a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately.
- •Store separately — keep jewellery in individual pouches or compartments to avoid scratching.
- •Avoid water and chemicals — remove jewellery before washing, swimming, or applying perfume, hairspray, or skincare. These cause tarnishing and can damage finishes quickly.
- •Keep earrings and pierced jewellery in their original packaging when not in use.
Always Check the Product Page
Every Mekora piece has specific care instructions on its product page. The guidance above covers general principles, but your garment's care label and product page are the final word — especially for anything with special finishes, embellishments, or unusual fabric compositions.
If you're ever unsure about how to care for a specific piece, visit mekora.com/help or lodge a support ticket from your account. We're happy to help.
Still need help?
Reach out to us at support@mekora.com — we respond within 24 hours on business days.