Alya Designs
 
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There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing your favourite shawl being ruined in the washing machine. Whether it's loose threads or shawl with missing embellishments, we all at one point of time have our fair share of what I'd call it, sad shawl stories.

Knowing a few simple caring tips can do wonders to your shawls, not to mention your wallet. Taking proper care of your shawls can extend their lifespan. I've compiled 4 tips on you can make your shawls last longer. Please do yourself a favour and save yourself some heartache. Don't repeat any of the mistakes I've made here!

1) HAND WASH DELICATE SHAWLS

This is the mother of all rules. I don't know how to emphasize it further hence the number one rule is in all capitals and bold. You know the drill:
  • Fill up a bucket with cold water
  • Add liquid or powder detergent
  • Let the shawl soak for a few hours and keep it submerged for a moment
  • Drain out the water
  • Rinse the shawl well in clean water
  • Pat the excess water out with a towel
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Let me share with you my shawl stories. I used to have this gorgeous purple shawl. What I love about it is the metallic threads. When I wear the shawl, I'd like to imagine it makes me shimmer in the glistening sun (think Edward Cullen when he sparkles in the sun. hehehe). Besides, who doesn't love all things shiny?

So one fine day after my stint in the Expo, sheer exhaustion and *cough cough* laziness *cough cough* drove me to simply chuck this shawl together with other clothes into the washing machine. The machine merrily spinned this delicate shawl of mine. 
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When the machine gave me this little nasty surprise, I then started to take a careful look at the things I chuck inside the machine.
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With loose threads coming out of my shawl. Not a pretty sight indeed.

Hand washing may sound like a lot of hard work but trust me, it prolongs the lifespan of your shawl. You don't want those pretty shawls with embellishments to be ruined, don't you?

If you find it a hassle to be hand washing daily, I suggest collecting used shawls when your day is over and wash them at the end of the week. 
2) Don't wring or twist your shawl

When rinsing excess water out, avoid wringing it as this will damage the material. Use a towel and pat the water out or hang it loosely to allow dripping.
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The picture above is me wearing an Indian shawl in green. I wore it for the first time when I was conducting my 2nd tudung workshop. I have this thing about relating events with the things I wear. 

Pardon me for digressing.

The Indian shawl range was available online in February this year. I love the vibrant colour, the metallic threads (again) and the lightness of it all. 
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After rinsing my shawl, I wrung it out to remove excess water. The after effect - a permanent crinkled shawl. *slaps forehead* But hey, that's not so bad after all cos I have just 'created' a new shawl! Hurhur
3) Separate colored and white/light shawls
Just like any other clothes, you need to separate your shawls so that they last longer. Separate the whites or light colours from the coloured pieces before washing them. 
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Another shawl story. Hmm, why does it seem I have so many mishaps when it comes to caring for my shawls? Aha, it's so that I can tell you ladies please don't repeat these mistakes! Hehehe

This picture above is a stretchy shawl. Again, I didn't sieve out this light coloured shawl from the rest of the laundry. Colour stains/blotches are unsightly and not to mention, I can't use the shawl again. Rahhh! 
4) Air dry your shawls

The wind and sun are the best when it comes to air drying your shawls the natural way. It's energy saving and who doesn't love warm clothes that's been out dried in the sunshine?

For my case, however, I come from a relatively large family. When we hang our clothes out to dry, all the bamboo holes will be used up. There will still be a pile of laundry left for drying. Our corridor doesn't have much space for a clothes rack and hanging indoors is not an option. So my family chose to get a dryer for our convenience.

I hail the invention of a dryer because it's a savior especially on rainy days. I could happily stuff my shawls inside the dryer and they come out dry and crisp. 
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Little did I know that dryers can wreak havoc on fabrics. Hot air in a dryer causes more shrinkage. This is what happens to one of my shawls. It's permanently crinkled, lined and is slightly "springy". I just have to iron this shawl whenever I need to wear it. I love ironing...not!
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So, here's to more air drying and saving of electricity.
My shawl success story! Ahem

Here's an example of a shawl that has been lovingly taken care of. It's the same material as the one above and I bought them at the same time. 

Notice the difference in quality. This one looks as if it's still brand new. The fabric is soft, not crinkled and definitely not stained.
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With a little more caring for your shawls, you can make them last longer. It doesn't matter if the shawls are expensive or not. Even cheap shawls can last long if you maintain them well. 

If you have any tips or questions, please feel free to email me at info@alyadesigns.com. Tips and comments are much appreciated! Like the article? Forward it to your friends or tag them in the note. Caring is sharing! :)

Love,
Islianah
www.alyadesigns.com

Disclaimer:
This article is based on my personal and honest experience. Any information provided here is for educational purposes only. The views on products reviewed are my own and not necessarily those of suppliers/sellers/retailers. 
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