Handmade clothes — whether hand-embroidered, block-printed, handloom-woven, or made with hand-applied embellishment — require different care than mass-produced garments. The fibres are often natural (cotton, silk, linen, wool), the dyes can be more sensitive than industrial dyes, and the craft elements (embroidery, mirrors, sequins, block-print) require specific handling. Caring for handmade clothes correctly extends their life significantly — a well-maintained handmade piece can last ten or twenty years. This guide covers how to wash, dry, store, and repair handmade clothes in India.
General Principles: Handmade Clothes and Water
The single most important rule for most handmade clothes: cold water, gentle handling, and minimal agitation. Hot water can cause natural fibres to shrink, colours to bleed, and embellishment to loosen. Strong agitation (machine washing) can break embroidery threads, dislodge mirror work or sequins, and cause the fabric to pill or distort. Most handmade clothes should be hand washed or dry cleaned — not machine washed.
How to Hand Wash Handmade Clothes
Fill a basin with cold water. Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent — not powder, not bleach, not fabric softener (fabric softener can coat natural fibres and reduce their ability to breathe). Gently submerge the garment and move it slowly through the water without wringing or twisting. For embroidered or embellished pieces, work around the embellishment — don't scrub it. Soak for 5–10 minutes, then drain and refill with clean cold water to rinse. Repeat until no soap remains. Gently press the water out — do not wring. Lay flat to dry or hang on a padded hanger in shade.
Fabric-Specific Care
Cotton and Linen
Cotton and linen are the most forgiving handmade fabric types. Cold or cool water hand wash. Linen can be slightly more susceptible to wrinkling. Iron on medium heat while slightly damp. Cotton block-print fabrics should be washed separately for the first few washes as the dye can bleed slightly — this is normal for natural dyes. After the first few washes, the colour stabilises.
Silk (Including Chanderi Silk)
Silk is the most delicate natural fabric. Always hand wash in cold water with a very mild detergent, or dry clean. Never soak for more than 5 minutes. Silk can water-spot if not dried evenly — lay flat to dry or roll in a clean towel to press out excess water before laying flat. Do not wring. Iron on low heat on the reverse side only, with a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric. For more on chanderi specifically, see our chanderi fabric guide.
Embroidered Pieces
Hand embroidery stitches can loosen under agitation or heavy water exposure. Hand wash in cold water, working gently around the embroidered sections. Do not scrub embroidery. Dry face-down on a flat surface to avoid the embroidery thread catching on the surface and pulling. Store flat rather than folded through the embroidered section to prevent thread distortion.
Mirror Work (Shisha Embroidery)
Mirror work dupattas and garments require the most careful handling. Never machine wash — the embroidery stitches that hold the mirrors in place will come loose under agitation. Hand wash very gently in cold water, keeping the mirrors submerged and supported (don't let them hang and pull on the fabric). Dry flat in shade. Store flat rather than folded on the mirror sections. For mirror work styling advice, see our mirror work dupatta styling guide.
Sequins and Embellishment
Sequined pieces should be dry cleaned where possible. If hand washing, use minimal water and very gentle handling — sequins are typically attached with adhesive or thread loops, both of which are weakened by prolonged water exposure and agitation. Dry flat. Store hanging rather than folded through sequined sections (folding can break the adhesive on backed sequins).
Block Print
Block-printed fabric — particularly with natural or vegetable dyes — can bleed slightly on the first wash. Wash separately in cold water for the first 2–3 washes. The print may soften slightly with washing over time — this is characteristic of natural dye block-print and gives the fabric a vintage quality. Iron on medium heat from the reverse side to preserve the sharpness of the block-print pattern.
Handloom (Khadi, Chanderi, Linen Handloom)
Handloom fabrics are typically robust but respond badly to machine washing, which can cause pilling and distortion of the woven structure. Hand wash in cold water. If the handloom fabric is a blend (cotton-silk chanderi, for example), treat as you would the more delicate fibre — in this case, silk. Iron carefully at a temperature appropriate for the base fibre.
Drying Handmade Clothes
Never tumble dry handmade clothes — the heat and agitation cause shrinking, embellishment loss, and colour fading. Always air dry in shade. Direct sunlight fades colours, particularly natural dyes and block-prints. Lay flat for embroidered or embellished pieces. Hang on padded hangers for woven pieces. Do not hang knitted or loosely woven pieces — they stretch under their own weight when wet.
Storing Handmade Clothes
Store handmade clothes in breathable cotton storage bags or folded in breathable fabric — not plastic bags or airtight containers, which trap moisture and cause mildew. Fold embroidered or heavily embellished pieces with the embellishment facing outward, with a layer of acid-free tissue paper between the embellishment and the fabric to prevent the embellishment from pressing into and distorting the base fabric. Hang sarees and dupattas on padded hangers rather than folded where possible — this prevents permanent crease lines. Store away from direct light.
Ironing Handmade Clothes
Always iron handmade clothes on the reverse side or with a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric. Use the appropriate heat setting for the fibre: cool for silk, medium for cotton and linen. Never iron directly over embroidery, mirrors, sequins, or block-print detailing — the heat can melt adhesive, flatten embroidery, crack mirrors, and fade dye.
When to Seek Professional Cleaning
Dry clean: pure silk, chanderi silk, heavy embellished bridal-adjacent pieces, and any garment with instructions specifying dry clean only. Also dry clean any piece after wearing to a heavily fragranced event — perfume and deodorant can set into natural fibres and become difficult to remove with hand washing.
Repairing Handmade Clothes
A missing button, a loose thread, a slightly frayed edge — these are all repairable on handmade clothes without requiring professional intervention. For loose embroidery threads, use a hand needle and matching thread to re-anchor the stitch rather than cutting it. For missing sequins or mirrors, most craft stores carry replacements. For structural repairs (seams, buttonholes), a skilled local darzi (tailor) can repair most handmade garments at low cost. Repairing is always worth it — a well-made handmade piece is worth maintaining.
Care Labels
All Haus of Handmade pieces carry care labels with specific washing instructions. These are the most reliable guide for each specific garment. Where this guide and the care label differ, follow the care label for that specific piece.
Can I machine wash Indian handmade clothes?
Generally no — most handmade Indian clothes should be hand washed in cold water or dry cleaned, not machine washed. Machine washing causes embroidery threads to loosen, mirrors and sequins to fall off, block-print dyes to bleed, and natural fibres to shrink or pill. Plain cotton handmade clothes with no embellishment can sometimes be machine washed on a gentle cold cycle in a mesh laundry bag, but hand washing is always safer.
How do you wash block-print Indian clothes?
Hand wash block-print Indian clothes in cold water with mild detergent. Wash separately for the first 2–3 washes as the dye (especially natural or vegetable dye) can bleed slightly — this is normal. Do not soak for more than 10 minutes. Dry in shade to preserve colour. Iron from the reverse side on medium heat. The print may soften slightly over time, which is characteristic of natural dye block-print.
How do I store Indian ethnic wear at home?
Store Indian ethnic wear in breathable cotton storage bags or folded in breathable fabric — not plastic, which traps moisture and causes mildew. Fold embroidered or embellished pieces with acid-free tissue paper between layers. Hang sarees and dupattas on padded hangers where possible rather than folding. Store away from direct sunlight, which fades colours and natural dyes.
How do you remove stains from handmade Indian clothes?
For fresh stains: blot (don't rub) with a clean cloth to absorb as much as possible. For water-soluble stains on cotton or linen, cold water and mild soap applied gently with a soft cloth works. For oil stains on silk or chanderi, apply a small amount of mild dish soap and hand wash immediately in cold water. For heavy staining on silk, embroidered, or heavily embellished pieces, take to a dry cleaner as soon as possible — do not attempt to treat at home.
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