How to Care for Your Hemp Apparel to Ensure Longevity
Introduction to hemp apparel care
Hemp clothing is known for its durability, but proper care is essential to maintain its quality. Our care label says dry clean, and that is our official instruction — particularly for the first wash, and always for anything with hand embroidery.
● Dry clean: the first wash, always. And every wash for hand-embroidered pieces — machine cycles can catch and pull resham thread.
● After the first wash: a gentle hand wash or mild machine cycle is fine for plain pieces with no colour contrast. Use a very mild detergent, or none at all.
● Shade dry: never direct sunlight, which fades colour on any natural fibre. Avoid the dryer.
● Ironing: use a low heat setting, ideally while the fabric is still slightly damp.
● Storage: keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Understanding the fabric
Hemp fabric is made from hemp fibre, a strong and long-lasting natural material. It is durable, breathable and absorbent, and softens with every wash without losing strength. It also resists mould and UV light, which makes it well suited to Indian weather.
Benefits of hemp apparel
Hemp fibre is strong and resistant to wear, so garments last. It requires fewer resources to grow than many conventional fabrics. Its breathable, soft-against-the-skin feel makes it comfortable for daily wear, and pieces built from it stay in rotation for years rather than seasons.
Washing and drying
The most common mistake is detergent. People use whatever is to hand, and strong detergents strip natural fibres — the damage isn't visible on the first wash, but it accumulates. Hemp doesn't need a heavy chemical load anyway; its porous structure means it releases odour on its own.
If you are washing at home after the first dry clean, use cold or lukewarm water and a very mild detergent, or a plain salt-water rinse. Avoid bleach entirely. Air dry in the shade; hemp dries quickly thanks to its porous structure. Never tumble dry embroidered pieces.
If you're wondering whether hemp shrinks, we've written about what our orders since 2021 actually show.
Stain removal
Act quickly. Blot the stain rather than rubbing, which spreads it. Pre-treat with a gentle detergent or a natural stain remover, leave it a few minutes, then wash as usual. For tougher marks, a soft-bristled brush works the detergent gently into the fabric. A paste of baking soda and water, applied and left to dry before washing, also works.
Ironing and steaming
Iron hemp while it's still slightly damp — the moisture relaxes the fibres and wrinkles fall out easily. If the garment has dried fully, use a steam iron on a moderate setting. Always iron inside out to protect colour and texture, and use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric. Avoid high heat.
Storing your hemp wardrobe
Store hemp in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which fades colour over time. Hang structured pieces on wooden or padded hangers to hold their shape. Knitted items are better stored folded, to prevent stretching. Avoid leaving anything folded for very long periods — deep creases become hard to remove.
Seasonal care
As the seasons change, so should your approach. Through warmer, humid months, store hemp somewhere breathable to prevent mildew. Before packing anything away for a cooler season, make sure it is completely dry. Refreshing pieces between seasons — a gentle wash, or simply airing them out — revives the fibres.
Preventing wear and tear
Wash with like colours, skip the bleach, air dry rather than tumble, and hang garments to keep their shape. Small habits, repeated, are the difference between clothing that lasts two years and clothing that lasts ten.
In closing
Caring for hemp is straightforward: cold water, gentle detergent, air drying, thoughtful storage. Follow these and your hemp garments will hold their colour, shape and strength for years.
At The House of Hemp, every piece is made to order in our Kolkata atelier, where a team of 15 artisans hand-embroiders resham work onto our festive garments. Made-to-measure is available across our range, sized XXS–4XL. Explore our Dresses, browse our co-ord sets, or see the full collection.
