How to Care for Cotton Knitwear (So It Lasts for Years)

A good cotton-knit polo should outlast a dozen fast-fashion tees. Most of the difference comes down to how you wash and store it.

In short. Wash cotton knitwear cold on a gentle cycle, reshape it damp and dry it flat — never hang or tumble dry. Store it folded. Light pilling is normal at first and settles after the initial wash.

How to do it

1. Wash cold & gentle — Cold water, gentle cycle or hand-wash, mild detergent. Heat is what shrinks and warps cotton knit.
2. Reshape and dry flat — Gently press out water (don’t wring), lay flat on a towel and reshape. Keep out of direct sun.
3. Fold, don’t hang — Hanging stretches the shoulders over time. Fold knitwear on a shelf or in a drawer.

Why flat-drying matters

Wet knit is heavy, and gravity does the damage. Hang a damp cotton polo and the weight pulls the body long and the shoulders out. Dry it flat and it keeps the shape it was knit to.

On pilling: it’s not a defect. Loose surface fibres lift in the first wear or two, then the long Giza fibres settle. A soft comb or a fabric shaver clears any that remain.

Explore the collection — pure Egyptian Giza cotton, knit by hand in Egypt.