Short answer: House of Falguni pieces are made with handcrafted homegrown cotton, block-print fabric, ikat weaves, and delicate jewellery construction. The key is gentle washing, careful drying, and low-heat ironing. Here's the complete care guide.
How should I wash an embroidered or ikat kurti?
Always hand wash kurtis and dresses in cold water (below 30°C) using a mild detergent. This protects the fabric weave, ikat pattern, and any embellishment. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing directly over detailed areas.
If machine washing is unavoidable, use the delicate cycle in a mesh laundry bag with cold water. Never use the regular or heavy cycle.
How do I remove a stain from ethnic wear?
Blot rather than rub, work from the reverse of the fabric, and use cold water only. Heat sets haldi, chai and protein stains permanently, and rubbing abrades hand-dyed colour. Turmeric in particular should never meet soap first, which turns it red-brown. Our complete stain removal guide covers haldi, oil, chai, sweat, ink and colour bleed, organised by stain and by fabric.
How should I wash HOF earrings and bangles?
HOF earrings and fabric bangles are handcrafted from fabric offcuts, ghungroo bells, kundan work, and carefully sourced materials, and they are not waterproof. Keep them away from water entirely. Do not wash them. Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth after wearing to remove any oils or moisture from your skin.
How should I care for the Nilufar Modal Silk Stole?
The Nilufar Stole is hand block-printed with Ajrakh natural dyes on modal silk. Hand wash separately in cold water with a very mild detergent. The first wash may release a small amount of excess dye, which is normal with natural block-printing. Dry flat in shade, never in direct sunlight, which can fade natural dyes over time.
How should I care for the Katha Fabric Diary?
The Katha Diary has a hand block-printed cotton cover. Keep it away from water and moisture. Store flat or upright on a shelf. Do not leave it in direct sunlight for extended periods as natural dyes can fade. The recycled rag paper inside is slightly textured, and it is designed for writing with ballpoint, gel, or fine-tip pens.
How should I dry HOF clothing after washing?
- Never wring or twist the fabric, which distorts the weave and damages detailing.
- Gently press out excess water between two towels.
- Dry flat in shade, away from direct sunlight. UV light fades natural and ikat dyes.
- Do not tumble dry.
How do I iron a kurti or dress without damaging it?
Iron on the reverse (wrong) side of the fabric. Place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the fabric for extra protection. Use the lowest heat setting suitable for the fabric. Never iron directly over mirror work, ghungroo details, or any handcrafted embellishment, since heat will distort or melt them.
How do I store HOF pieces to keep them looking good?
- Fold clothing along natural creases, not against embellished panels.
- Store in a cotton muslin bag or breathable garment bag, never plastic, which traps moisture and causes yellowing.
- Store earrings flat or hanging, away from moisture. Avoid contact with perfume directly on the earring, and spray your fragrance before putting them on.
- Store bangles individually or wrapped in soft cloth to prevent scratching.
- Keep a few neem leaves or a cedar block in your storage area to deter insects naturally.
What if the colour fades or a detail comes loose?
Minor fading can be prevented by always using cold water and turning garments inside out before washing. If embroidery threads or fabric details come loose on a kurti, take it to a local tailor for repair rather than cutting the thread. For earring or bangle repairs, reach us via our Contact Us page.
Does House of Falguni include care instructions with each piece?
Yes. A care label is attached to every clothing item. Always check the label first. Fabric blends vary between products, and the label gives the most accurate guidance for that specific piece.
How do I remove odour from ethnic wear without washing it every time?
Not every wear needs a full wash, and washing handcrafted pieces too often shortens their life. Hang the garment in fresh air for a few hours after wearing it, ideally somewhere with a breeze, before it goes back in the cupboard. A light spritz of a fabric-safe freshening spray helps between washes, and a small sachet of dried neem leaves or cedar wood in your cupboard keeps the whole space smelling clean without a single extra wash.
Can I dry clean handcrafted or hand block-printed pieces?
Dry cleaning is usually safe for structured pieces without natural dye, but hand block-printed and naturally dyed fabric, like our Ajrakh pieces, can react unpredictably to the solvents some dry cleaners use. If a care label recommends dry cleaning, choose a cleaner experienced with hand-dyed textiles and mention the fabric specifically before they process it. When in doubt, hand washing in cold water at home is the gentler, more predictable choice.
How do I travel with delicate ethnic wear without creasing it?
Roll rather than fold wherever the fabric allows, since rolling avoids the sharp creases that folding leaves at the same points every time. For pieces with structure or embellishment, layer tissue paper between folds to cushion the detailing. Pack your most delicate pieces in the centre of your suitcase, surrounded by softer items, rather than at the edges where they take the most pressure during transit.
What is the safest way to store pieces I do not wear often?
A breathable cotton garment bag is the safest home for anything you are not reaching for regularly. Avoid plastic entirely, since it traps moisture and can yellow fabric over months of storage. Refold occasionally, every few months, so the fabric does not develop a permanent crease along the same line, and check every so often for any sign of moisture or insects, particularly if the piece is stored somewhere humid.
How often should I actually wash a kurti?
Less often than most people assume. Unless a piece is visibly soiled or has been worn on a particularly warm, active day, airing it out is usually enough between wears. Overwashing is one of the fastest ways to fade natural dye and soften embellishment before its time, so treat washing as a considered decision rather than an automatic step after every single wear.
What detergent should I use on handcrafted pieces?
A mild, pH-neutral detergent without optical brighteners or bleach is the safest choice for any hand-dyed or block-printed fabric. Many everyday detergents are formulated to make whites look whiter and colours look brighter through chemical additives, which can dull or shift natural dye over repeated washes. A gentle detergent made for delicates, used sparingly, protects colour far better than a strong one used generously.
How do I know when a piece genuinely needs professional attention?
Most everyday care can happen at home, but a few situations call for a professional's hand: a set-in stain that has already been through one failed washing attempt, a loose embroidery thread on a piece you cannot bear to risk further, or fading you suspect is uneven rather than natural wear. Taking a piece to someone experienced with hand-dyed or embroidered textiles early, before you attempt a home fix that might make things worse, usually saves both the garment and your peace of mind.
Building a care routine, not just a rescue plan
The pieces that last longest in any wardrobe are rarely the ones treated most carefully in a single moment of crisis. They are the ones that get a small, consistent routine: air after wearing, a gentle wash when it is genuinely needed, proper drying in shade, and thoughtful storage in between. None of these steps takes more than a few minutes on their own, but together they are what separates a kurti that still looks new after two years from one that has visibly faded after two months.
Why care instructions differ so much between pieces
It can be frustrating when two kurtis that look similar carry different care instructions, but the difference usually comes down to the fabric blend and dye method underneath. A piece dyed with natural, plant-based colour needs gentler handling than one dyed synthetically, and a hand block-printed fabric behaves differently under heat and water than a plain-woven one. This is exactly why we attach a specific care label to every clothing item rather than issuing one blanket instruction for the whole collection.
A final word on caring for handmade things
Caring properly for a handcrafted piece is, in a small way, a continuation of the same attention the artisan gave it while making it. It takes a little more thought than throwing everything into a machine wash on a hot cycle, but the payoff is a wardrobe of pieces that genuinely age well, colours that stay true and embellishment that stays intact for years of wear rather than months.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How should I wash a House of Falguni kurti? Hand wash in cold water with mild detergent. If machine washing, use delicate cycle in a mesh bag with cold water.
How do I remove a stain from ethnic wear? Blot rather than rub, work from the reverse of the fabric, and use cold water only. Heat sets haldi, chai and protein stains permanently. Never apply soap to turmeric first, as it turns the stain red-brown.
How should I care for HOF earrings and bangles? Keep away from water entirely. Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth after wearing. Do not wash.
How do I care for the Nilufar Modal Silk Stole? Hand wash separately in cold water with mild detergent. Dry flat in shade away from sunlight. First wash may release slight excess dye, which is normal for Ajrakh block-printing.
How do I dry HOF clothing after washing? Press out excess water gently without wringing. Dry flat in shade away from direct sunlight. Do not tumble dry.
How do I iron a House of Falguni kurti? Iron on the reverse side with low heat, using a cotton cloth as a barrier. Never iron directly over mirror work, ghungroo details, or any handcrafted embellishment.
How should I store HOF earrings? Store flat or hanging, away from moisture. Spray perfume before putting earrings on, not after.
