DUPIONI CARE GUIDE
With a little care and maintenance, your P Johnson garments should live a long life. Dupioni silk naturally has a crisp, structured appearance with a subtle sheen, differentiating it from charmeuse, a shiny, flowing silk. It is made from double cocoons, spun when two silkworms create their cocoons too close together, causing their filaments to tangle and merge.
Our silk dupioni cloth has a characteristic slub on the weft yarn, a beautiful feature that brings a rich textural appearance and antique shangtung appeal. It is a pure silk, woven and constructed by specialist makers in China, the original and still the best silk source in the world. We make our dupioni with an open weave giving a fluid drape and sensual movement, more dynamic than a traditional dupioni which can be quite stiff and stout. It also means it is more breathable in the heat but still has enough structure to sit away from the skin.
These pieces will maintain their beautiful structure, handle and sheen with minimal intervention, gentle care and proper handling.
Whilst wearing your garments be sure to avoid:
- Abrasive surfaces, sharp objects or jewellery that could damage the texture of the silk.
- Contact with any chemicals such as fragrance and personal care products.
- Contact with water or extended periods in direct sunlight.
Should your garment come into contact with water or form water spots in a humid environment use a neutral coloured lint free cloth to blot off the water. Softly buff the edges of the spot to prevent ring stain formation.
Dupioni silk naturally resists wrinkles, drops creases and retains structure if hung properly. Hang items if space allows, use a wide hanger on shirting and blouses to maintain the shoulder form. All pants, skirts, shorts and dresses include internal hanging loops. Silk dupioni may also be stored folded.
To remove creases before wear, hang the item and allow the crease to fall naturally, most will drop out overnight with ease. If stubborn creases persist from long periods of storage we recommend cool, dry ironing on the reverse side, ideally with a pressing cloth between the iron and fabric. We do not suggest steaming silk dupioni as water may affect the appearance.
Avoid long sun exposure and store away from light and moisture, UV exposure dulls sheen and degrades the silk over time.
Silk is naturally more odour and bacteria resistant than other fibres, requiring less cleaning. When cleaning is necessary choose a trusted dry cleaner experienced with silk and delicate fabrics, and request gentle processes.
Silk can absorb moisture and swell, especially dupioni silk due to its porous nature. Water can cause texture change, misshaping, water stains and rings. Do not hand wash or spot clean silk dupioni, even if carefully done this risks shrinkage and softening the crisp structure.
