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Our premium quality silk is made naturally, with azo-free dyes that are non-toxic and do not have any synthetic top finishing. No two pieces are the same; variation in printing & colour are hallmarks of hand block printing and dyeing in small batches. It will not stay flawless, but will pick up signs of use, making it a unique product that ages beautifully over time, just like you. We chose to work with natural silk, because of our commitment towards people, animals and planet. The texture and feel of the fabric evolves with time. It is a natural material that ages, so the more you wear it, the softer and more endearing it becomes. It’s colour will also alter when exposed to direct sunlight. Care for your items like your best friends! When you discover a hole in your favourite scarf or outfit, try to fix it instead of throwing it away or getting a replacement. We sometimes lose our favourite garments to poor care. You can easily repurpose and upcycle them for another season (or two). Read the care labels on your items and store it in a way that extends its lifecycle so that it stays around longer in your wardrobe. These are some tips that will help you take good care of your purchase.

DRY CLEANING

Each piece is pre-washed 4 to 5 times gently by hand using a special, mild liquid soap. It’s done by highly skilled artisans, who do not let the fabric sit in the water even for a few seconds, and keep swirling it gently enough, just to remove the excess ink. At aeshaane, we are very careful with the way we wash our silk during processing, as it plays an extremely vital role in its finishing. However, we would not recommend that to our clients, hence ‘Dry cleaning’ is the safest option to preserve the integrity of your fibres.

After each wear, we recommend that you simply ‘air out’ your silk fabric under the fan or aircon for a few hours. This normally does the trick, simply iron and it’s as good as new! Taking care of them like this, ensures multiple wears, before you decide to give it for ‘Dry cleaning’. Again, be careful to check on what goes on behind the scenes at the cleaners, otherwise your silk may come back looking faded and different. Please instruct your cleaners strictly ‘Not to use’ starch or a stiffening agent, as that kills the fluidity of the fabric!

WATER

However, in case, you try to get adventurous with washing your silks at home, we would recommend that you gently hand wash them separately, with a mild baby shampoo or soaps with low pH levels. Do not agitate, rub or soak. Just dip, dry them in shade and roll out on a flat surface. Do not wring to remove excess water. Even though our pieces are pre-washed, with dark colours, it’s normal for excess colour to run in the first few washes. So, be very careful with your little experiment, else the scarf will be beyond repair. By washing less we can save on the most important resource, thereby also increasing the longevity of our clothes.

MOISTURE

We also recommend to avoid using your product on rainy days, as silk is a natural material. Therefore, it is best to avoid humidity or rain if possible. If you’ve used your silk in the rain my any chance, sometimes slight bleeding or discolouration may appear. Remember that 100% pure silk can never be entirely waterproof. When not in use, store your handcrafted piece in a storage bag away from moisture.

Stains

How to remove an oil stain from silk? Well, in case you notice an oil stain on your treasured piece, do not panic. Open out the fabric and lay it on your iron table. Take some regular talcum powder in your hand, and carefully put a pinch over the oil stain. Then gently even it out. Let it sit for a few minutes, now iron over it (with the talcum powder). You’ll notice that the powder has absorbed the oil. Lightly dust the remaining talcum, and Voila, the stain disappears!

HAND SANITISERS & FRAGRANCES

Be careful with hand sanitisers and perfumes. They contain alcohol, which may cause slight discolouration on the finish of your beautiful silk fabric.

Iron

Iron on a low to medium setting, on the reverse side and preferably keep a protective cloth between the iron and garment. Use a normal iron as opposed to steam ironing, as it contains moisture.

Storage

Store your piece in the cloth bag that comes with every purchase. Our bags are specially crafted by TALC, ‘The Alternative Learning Community Centre’ based in Bangalore, who work with children. Meet Gautam, a 20 year old young adult, who is a stickler for perfection, plays the keyboard, cooks and is in the spectrum of Autism. We sent out a few of our signature patterns to be explored by the artist and were blown away by his perseverance to do the job, however small with pride and efficacy. So the next time you receive one our handmade shawls wrapped in a cloth bag that bears the ‘Tree of life’ imprint, remember, it fortifies his indomitable spirit “I AM WHO I AM”!