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Cotton fabric is manufactured from natural plant fibres and is used for many things, including various styles of clothing, from jumpers and jeans to coats and jackets. The fibres can be woven or knitted into garments that are both comfortable and breathable. Cotton clothing is both economical and long-lasting, and while cotton mixes are usually ready to wear immediately out of the dryer, 100% cotton clothing needs a little extra attention to keep it looking its best and lasting for years.

How to wash cotton

Machine washable garments made of 100 percent cotton should be laundered every two to three wears, based on how soiled the item becomes. Check the care labels on your clothes before placing them in the washer

While cotton is washable, some clothing , such as linings and interfacings in tailored coats and blazers, may feature non-washable materials that provide structural support. Other cotton garments may be sensitive and require the delicate cycle or hand washing. So, if you come across a tag that reads "dry clean only," pay attention and follow the directions.

Dry cleaning is a good alternative if you have dark cotton jeans or blazers that you don't want to fade. A skilled cleaner will know how to properly care for the fabric. You can also use a home dry cleaning kit to refresh and protect dark-coloured cotton.

How to iron cotton

When cleaned, some cotton textiles wrinkle excessively or form curled hem edges, meaning you might need to iron them. Always iron cotton fabric on the inside with a medium-hot iron. Use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric for added protection. Cellulosic fibres can be scorched by ironing at extremely high temperatures. As the fibres begin to burn, they sear or turn yellow.

Spray with laundry starch or sizing while ironing for a crisp finish. Liquid starch is required for stiff laundry-starched garments. To effectively remove wrinkling, use a clothes steamer or hang cotton items in a steamy bathroom. This will not result in a precise finish, but it will eliminate large creases.

Treating stains on organic cotton clothes

To avoid permanent damage, treat stains on cotton items as soon as possible, just as you would any other type of fabric. For optimal results, follow the stain remover's directions and let the cotton item sit for at least 10 minutes before washing.

Avoid using chlorine bleach that hasn't been diluted because it might weaken fibres and create holes in cotton fabrics. For stain removal and whitening, a dilute solution can be used safely on cotton or cellulosic fabrics. Always read and follow the guidelines on the bleach label. If applied too regularly to whiten clothing, even dilute solutions will weaken cotton fibres, causing them to rip and wear out.

An oxygen-based bleach is a better option for lightening and brightening white and coloured cotton materials. Because oxygen bleaches take longer to work than chlorine bleaches, soaking the clothes for at least one hour will yield the best results. Always read the product labels and stick to the instructions.

Ethical cotton clothes from THE-CØDED

Our innovative online shopping experience allows you the consumer to find out exactly where your clothes are made, and by whom. We work with various manufacturers that specialise in cotton clothing. Many of these manufacturers produce the same quality clothing for designer brands, only without the labels for THE-CØDED. 

Shop our menswear and womenswear collections to find ethical cotton clothing which you can wear from season to season.

If you're conscious about making your clothes last a lifetime, to help the environment and save you money, taking good care of the clothes you buy is a great place to start. But what does ‘caring’ for your clothes actually mean?

Looking for clothes made from quality materials is a good starting point, but as a buyer, there’s also a responsibility to care for these clothing materials. 

To get started, read our guide on how to care for the most common clothing materials, from cotton and linen to leather and wool.

How to care for cotton

Cotton is the world's most extensively used natural fabric. As there are so many different types of cotton, you should always refer to the care label before washing. Caring for cotton is simple if you take a little bit of extra time in your washing routines. As cotton is prone to shrinking, try these simple steps to keep your clothes looking as good as new for longer:

• Whether using a washing machine or cleaning by hand, wash in cold (30°C or below) water.
• When you take your clothes out of the machine, give them a moderate stretch to get them back into shape.
• Always try to air dry your cotton clothes. Lay them flat and in direct sunlight if possible.

If you follow the above, cotton clothes often won’t need ironing. However, if you feel like ironing is necessary then you should refer to the care label to find out what temperature should be used on the garment. Try to iron just using the steam setting, or when your clothes are still slightly damp - this should reduce the possibility of any heat damage.

How to care for leather

Caring for leather clothes can be slightly trickier - it’s less about cleaning and more about preserving and storing correctly. Check your garment's care label to see what kind of leather it's made from, what finishes it has, and how the manufacturer suggests you wash it.

There are many sorts of leather cleaners for different types of leather, so be sure to use the right one. To make sure they're safe to use, run a patch test in a discreet spot (usually on the inside of the garment) and wait a few hours. Even though shoe polish is designed for leather shoes, never use it on leather apparel. If your leather garment gets wet, allow it to dry naturally and never in direct sunlight.  Never dry your leather garments on a radiator or in front of a heater or fire.

The best way to keep leather clean is to take it to a reputable and specialist cleaner, who will likely be experts in removing any stains without causing damage to the leather. Otherwise, you can wipe leather clean with a damp cloth, and store in a cool, dry and well ventilated area, preferably on a padded hanger. At THE-CØDED, we provide detailed care and washing instructions with all the leather garments that we sell.

How to care for linen

After each wash, linen becomes softer and more absorbent, which is an ideal perk. Linen should be washed at low temperatures in lukewarm or cold water. To maintain the fibres, use the gentle machine cycle and a moderate detergent. To be sure, always read the specific manufacturer's care recommendations. You can tumble dry linen garments on low temperatures, but make sure to remove them when the garments are still slightly damp so the material doesn’t become stiff. Hang up in a well ventilated area until fully dry.

How to care for wool

Wool garments are another difficult material to care for, as machine washing can often damage the fragile material. Wool coats and jackets should be brushed and put on a curved or padded hanger to air out after washing. We always recommend that wool coats and jackets are professionally dry cleaned where possible.

Other wool clothing can usually be hand washed in lukewarm water with a light soap or detergent. However, read the care labels before washing to see if there are any warnings about non-washable trimmings or blended fabrics. Wool clothing should be stored folded and flat, or for larger garments, hang them on a padded hanger in a dark wardrobe to prevent colour from fading. 

Clothing that lasts a lifetime at THE-CØDED

At THE-CØDED, we’re on a mission to source ethical materials of the highest standards, so that you can re-wear our pieces over and over again. Many of the items you see on our platform are made using natural fibres where possible.

You’ll also notice that we have no labels, just a cøde, meaning you can buy directly from our talented manufacturers and follow the journey of your garment. Browse our menswear and womenswear for all the latest trends in ethical fashion, and keep an eye out on our new arrivals for our newest collaborations.