Caring for your silk square
Silk is an exceptional natural fibre. Properly looked after, it moves through the years keeping its lustre, its fluidity and its drape. The essentials come down to a few gestures: entrust the square to a dry-cleaning professional, spare it the washing machine and hand washing, let your perfume dry before tying it, then store it flat, in its box. This is how a SUKē square is worn, and passed on.
Everyday care
To preserve the delicacy of the fabric and the richness of the colours, entrust cleaning to a dry-cleaning professional, ideally one used to silk scarves. Occasional cleaning is usually enough, which limits the fibres' exposure to cleaning products.
Washing machines and tumble dryers are not suited to silk. In the drum, friction, twisting and spinning weaken the fibre, dull the print and distort the rolled hem. In a tumble dryer, heat adds to the friction and causes the silk to lose its body.
Water can dull the brilliance of the colours. If your square gets wet from rain or a splash, blot the moisture without rubbing, then let it dry flat on a clean surface, in the shade and away from any heat source. Do not wring it, and wait until it is completely dry before handling it.
Perfumes and cosmetics call for particular care: their alcohols, oils and pigments can leave marks and alter the dyes. Apply your perfume before tying your square and let it dry for a few moments to avoid any transfer.
For storage, choose a dry, temperate place away from light, which fades colours over time. Store the square flat, without clips or hangers that would mark the fibre, away from rough surfaces and tight folds.
The SUKē box is made for exactly this: it keeps your square flat and away from light.
Ironing and steaming
First, let time do its work: laid flat for a few minutes, silk often relaxes on its own. If it needs refreshing, proceed with restraint to limit its exposure to heat.
With a garment steamer, use demineralised water and let the appliance heat up fully so that it does not spit any drops onto the silk. On a gentle setting, hold the steam head about twenty centimetres away and make slow, continuous passes without lingering on one area. Stop as soon as the crease softens. The nozzle must never touch the fabric or come near the rolled edges. Then let the square rest flat for a few minutes before putting it away.
With an iron, work on the reverse of the square, laid on a thin, completely dry white cotton cloth. Set the iron to the silk setting, at low temperature, and turn off the steam. Press for a few seconds, lift, then move on in small areas without ever sliding the soleplate: this is how you avoid leaving a shine on the silk. Spare the rolled hem, which must never be flattened, and let the fabric cool flat before folding it.
Two short, careful passes are better than one long, hot one. If a crease resists, take the square to the dry cleaner rather than turning up the heat.