Safe keeping
Moths
Clothes moths and carpet beetles are a threat to natural textile fibers such as cashmere. There are various methods to protect your clothing from these pests. Moths and their larvae, as well as other pests, are deterred by the smell of cedar wood. Spray your clothes with cedar oil or store them with pieces of cedar wood. Occasionally roughening the wood increases the scent. Another option is to use moth crystals based on paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. Avoid storing dirty or bad-smelling clothing as this can attract pests.
Additionally, we recommend storing your cashmere in our special Allude bag. This encloses the cashmere and offers optimal protection against moths.
Light
Please also make sure that your cashmere is stored in a dark place. The UV radiation from sunlight will inevitably bleach any fabric, including cashmere, over time. Unfortunately, a faded area cannot be repaired.
Wardrobe
Your cashmere should always be stored lying down and not hanging on a hanger. On a hanger, cashmere can lose its shape and become elongated over time.
Organize
Step 1: Let go and start again
Start by going through the entire contents of your closet, including the pieces hidden in the back. Take out all your clothes and organize them into different categories. For example, put all the sweaters in one pile, pants in another, and so on. Then examine each pile individually and think about why you kept each item of clothing. Reflect on how often you wear it and how well it looks on you. You then make the challenging decision of which pieces to eliminate from each category.
Step 2: Give as a gift or exchange
Instead of throwing away old clothes, ask friends and family members if they would be interested in your discarded pieces. Or, if you're not ready to break up completely, consider swapping clothes. Organizing a swap with friends is a smart way to try out new outfits without having to buy new clothes. If no one around you needs the clothing, there is always the option to sell or donate it. If your clothing is too damaged or worn for these options, find a local recycling center for proper disposal.
Or be creative and find new uses for old, torn fabrics - maybe you can make a patchwork blanket or bag out of old t-shirts. Let your creativity take over your mind and body!
Step 3: Remove lint and lint
After you've decided which clothes you want to keep, it's time to refresh them. Frequently occurring signs of wear such as lint and pilling are not a sign of poor quality, but are common phenomena in textiles, even with high-quality materials such as cashmere. Remove these with a fabric shaver to give your clothes a new look and feel. Minor blemishes can also be repaired with the right tools and a little patience.
Sew buttons back on that have fallen off, repair small holes, and trim loose threads. You can easily remove surface dirt, lint and dust with a clothes brush. We advise against disposable products and instead recommend long-lasting clothing care products. Our reusable lint brush, a modern alternative to disposable lint rollers, efficiently and gently removes lint, hair and dust from all types of textiles.
Step 4: Let your clothes breathe
When clothing and home furnishings are stored in a small space, they tend to get wrinkles and age faster. Washing and ironing are often the first steps to remove odors and smooth out wrinkles. However, these methods put a lot of strain on the textiles and should therefore be used sparingly.
As an alternative, we suggest steaming your garments. Steaming is a gentle and energy-efficient method compared to washing and ironing and is great for quickly freshening up clothes. The hot steam removes bacteria and odors and makes wrinkles disappear. Steaming also causes the fibers of the fabrics to swell and regain their natural shape and texture.
Step 5: Optimize your closet storage space
Now that your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free again, it's time to reorganize your closet. If you're still short on space after sorting out a few pieces, space-saving hangers can help free up more space on the same clothes rail.
You can also use this opportunity to find favorite items that you have almost forgotten about and to make room for those items of clothing that were previously hidden in the back of the closet. Rediscover your old wardrobe and try out different combinations to reassemble and vary your items of clothing.
Step 6: Create a timeless wardrobe
Today, the fashion industry is heavily influenced by fast pace and impulsive purchases. It is believed that on average we only wear 20% of the clothing we own on a regular basis. This finding, along with current consumer trends, should be thought-provoking. Take the opportunity of a tidy and restructured wardrobe to think about your ideal wardrobe.
Think about how you can create a timeless collection with carefully selected colors, materials and styles that suit your personal style. If possible, try to invest in high-quality clothing and home furnishings that will last for many years. Fashion trends may change, but investing in clothes you feel comfortable in will pay off in the long run. In this context, we would particularly like to recommend our Allude Basic collection to you.
Step 7: Make your clothes last
To get the most out of your existing wardrobe, don't neglect careful care of your favorite pieces. For the optimal care of your cashmere products, we recommend our care products specially developed for cashmere fibers. With proper care, our cashmere favorites will last a very long time. If a problem should arise, our Cashmere Clinic is at your disposal to make your cashmere shine again. Good luck and joy with your organized closet!