A beginner's guide to caring for naturally dyed peace silk

How to keep your Blodau piece looking beautiful – from someone who has made all the mistakes so you don't have to.

So you've bought your first Blodau garment – naturally dyed peace silk and hand-sewn by me. First of all – excellent taste. Secondly, let's talk about how to actually look after it, because it is a little different to your average high street purchase, and I want to make sure it stays beautiful for as long as possible.

I'll preface this by saying that I've learned most of this the slightly hard way, and we’ve all had our favourite clothing item ruined because we didn’t know how it should have been cared for. I'm not a textile conservator, but I have spent a lot of time working with fabrics, especially peace silk and natural dyes, and these are the things you need to know.

Washing – gently, always

Hand wash only. I really do mean it – no machine, not even on a delicate cycle. Silk doesn't like heat or agitation at the best of times, and naturally dyed silk is more sensitive than conventionally dyed fabric. A cool or lukewarm hand wash is all it needs.

Use a small amount of mild, pH-neutral soap, the kind you'd use for delicates. Work gently, rinse thoroughly in cool water, and whatever you do, don't wring it. Press the water out with your hands, then roll it in a clean towel to absorb the rest. That's it. You're done.

Treat it like you'd want to be treated after a long day. Gently and with care.

Drying – away from direct sunlight

This is the big one, and it's the mistake I see most often (including by me, early on). Sunlight and natural dyes are not friends. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will fade the colour over time, and with naturally dyed fabric, that process can happen faster than with synthetic dyes.

Lay the piece flat on a clean dry towel or a drying rack, somewhere shaded and well-ventilated. Indoors is ideal. It'll dry beautifully without any help from the sun, I promise.

Storing – it needs to breathe

Please, please don't store your silk in a plastic bag or airtight container. I know it feels like you're protecting it, but plastic traps moisture, and trapped moisture and silk do not get on. A breathable cotton storage bag, or simply folded loosely in a drawer or on a shelf, is much better.

If you're hanging it, use a padded hanger rather than a thin wire one (which can distort the fabric over time). Keep it somewhere cool and dark away from direct light, and away from radiators or heat sources.

Moths – take this seriously

I say this with love: do not underestimate the clothes moth. They are the villain of the natural fibre world, and silk is exactly the kind of thing they're after. If you're not already using cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or a dedicated moth deterrent in your wardrobe, now is the time to start.

Check on stored pieces periodically, especially if they've been put away for a season. Moths tend to go for items that haven't been disturbed in a while, so the occasional airing and inspection is genuinely good practice, not just paranoia.

Handling – with care

Peace silk is a beautiful fabric, but it is delicate, and naturally dyed silk even more so. Be mindful when putting it on or taking it off. Jewellery with rough edges, long nails, velcro on bags — these are all things that can snag or pull the fibres in a way that's very difficult to undo.

It's not precious in the way that means you can't wear it – quite the opposite. It's made to be worn and loved. But it'll reward a little mindfulness in how you handle it.

Ironing – if you must

Try not to, if you can help it. The easiest way to smooth out any creases is to hang the piece in the bathroom while you have a shower and let the steam do the work – honestly one of my favourite low-effort laundry tricks. It works a treat.

If you do need to iron it, use the lowest silk setting on the reverse of the fabric, and ideally place a clean cloth between the iron and the silk as an extra layer of protection. And never iron silk when it's damp – wait until it's fully dry.

A note on colour over time

Natural dyes will evolve. I want to be upfront about that, because I think it's a feature rather than a flaw, but it's worth knowing. With careful washing and storage, the colour will stay lovely for a long time. Over many years, it may soften and mellow slightly, settling into something a little more faded and lived-in.

I think that's rather beautiful, personally. A garment that wears its history has a completely different kind of value to something that stays rigidly the same. But it's your dress, so that's for you to decide.

In short: wash it gently, keep it out of the sun, let it breathe, and watch out for moths. Do that, and your Blodau piece will be with you for a very long time. Which is, of course, entirely the point. 🌿

Got a care question I haven't covered? Drop me a message –  I'm always happy to help.

Ciao for now

Olivia, Blodau 🌸