Materials & Care
A garment lasts as long as the fibre it's made from and the way it's looked after. Here is what we use, and what to do with it.
The fibres we work with
Wool
Warm when it's cold, breathable when it isn't, and naturally resistant to odour and creasing. Our coat wool is milled with enough weight to hold a shoulder line through a decade of winters.
Cashmere
Lighter and softer than wool at the same warmth. It wants gentle handling — cold water, no wringing, always folded rather than hung.
Cotton & linen
For shirting, jersey and shoulder-season layers. Linen creases; that is the point, and it softens with every wash.
Leather & suede
Full-grain where we can get it. It marks, and then it develops a patina that no finish can fake.
Care, by fibre
| Fibre | Wash | Dry | Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool knits | Cold hand wash or wool cycle at 30 °C, no softener | Flat, out of direct sun | Folded, never on a hanger |
| Cashmere | Cold hand wash with a pH-neutral soap | Flat, reshaped by hand while damp | Folded, with cedar |
| Wool coats | Dry clean only, once or twice a season | — | On a broad wooden hanger |
| Cotton shirting | Machine wash 30 °C | Line dry; iron damp | Hung |
| Linen | Machine wash 30 °C, gentle | Line dry | Hung or folded |
| Leather | Wipe with a damp cloth | Air dry away from heat | Conditioned twice a year |
Three habits that add years
- Wash less. Wool self-cleans in fresh air. Hang a sweater by an open window overnight instead of putting it in the machine.
- Comb, don't pick. A cheap knitwear comb, twice a season, keeps a wool sweater looking new for years.
- Rest your shoes. Never wear the same leather shoes two days running. With cedar trees and a day off, they'll last three times as long.
Questions about a specific piece?
Write to info@halstead.com with the product name and we'll tell you exactly how it's made and how to look after it.