How to care for a cotton shirt?
Why does cotton require this attention?
Cotton is a natural, living fiber: when treated well, it lasts for years; when mistreated, it loses its shape, pills, or fades in color. At Figaret, where cotton is available in Italian poplin as well as Japanese oxford or selvedge, the quality of the thread—often two-ply, obtained by twisting two threads together—already provides superior resistance. But no fabric, even the most noble, can do without careful maintenance.
Washing, a step not to be overlooked
30°C is sufficient in the vast majority of cases: a higher temperature wears out the fibers and dulls the colors faster than one might think. Buttoning the shirt before putting it in the machine, inside out, protects the collar, cuffs, and buttons from friction. It is also better to avoid high-speed spin cycles, which distort the collar and create deep, stubborn creases.
Drying, the crucial step
The tumble dryer remains the primary enemy of cotton: intense heat promotes shrinkage and durably weakens the fiber. Air drying, with the shirt on a hanger and buttoned to the top, preserves the material and significantly limits creases—a real time-saver when it comes to ironing.
Ironing, to preserve the fit
A cotton shirt should be ironed in the following order: collar, cuffs, sleeves, and then the body of the shirt. Ideally, it should be ironed while still slightly damp, which facilitates smoothing the fibers. A two-ply cotton shirt holds its shape better over time, but no cotton is completely exempt from this moment of attention.
A solution in case of an accident
A lost button or a weakened seam does not signal the end of a cotton shirt. Figaret offers a repair service conducted with the specialized company Les Réparables, encouraging repair rather than replacement, in the spirit of a shirt designed to last.
