Craft Care Instructions

Worried how to take care of your hand-crafted products to make them last a lifetime? Look no further as we have got you covered.

All of Khamir's products are handcrafted using the finest natural fibres. The subtle variations in colour, texture and finish are a testimony to the human involvement in the process. Creating each product is a lengthy process rooted in the crafts-based traditions of hand spinning, dyeing, weaving, hand-block printing of Kutch. We use natural and vegetable dyeing techniques that are passed on to artisans through the indigenous knowledge systems.

Fabric Care For Handwoven Kala Cotton

Properties

Khamir's clothing and home furnishings are 100% pure cotton. Handwoven cotton fabric has the added value of allowing more air penetration and is therefore cooler, more absorbent and breathes better than highly uniform, compacted machine made cotton fabric. This added breathability means you will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Handwoven cotton fabric also has a textural beauty and visible character which is not present in machine made fabric. Cotton is a very strong fibre, even when wet, so it holds up very well to repeated laundering.

Shrinkage

During the dyeing and printing processes, the yarn and then the fabric is repeatedly washed. This helps to ensure full dye penetration, removes any residual surface dye and also reduces shrinkage in the final tailored product. Depending on how you care for the product, additional shrinkage ranges from 5-7% for printed fabrics and 7-10% for woven products.

Laundering

Please refer to the specific care instructions on the garment. Because cotton is so strong when wet, caring for cotton is very simple and the more you wash it, the softer and more absorbent it becomes. The following tips will help you extend the life of the product.

  • Machine wash cold on gentle cycle, or at best, hand wash with cold water.

  • Wash items with like colors and turn your clothes inside out, especially dark colors.

  • Some colours may require to be washed separately the first few times.

  • Keep your zippers and hooks closed to avoid snagging other items in the wash.

  • If you choose to use bleach, use non-chlorine bleach which is less harsh on your fabrics and on the environment.

  • Tumble dry low heat. Remove items promptly from dryer, preferably when still damp.

  • Dry them in shade.

Please note that slight colour bleeding or rubbing may occur due to the traditional dyeing process involved

Ironing

Press with a warm to hot iron while damp. If the item has dried, use a spray bottle to dampen the fabric.


Fabric Care For Handwoven Silk

Properties

Certain villages in India have been processing silk threads from “silkworms” or caterpillars for 3,000 years. The various fibre and fabric properties depend on the type of worm or moth, the food that it eats and the way in which the fibres are processed. Khamir procures several varieties of silk, such as Tussar, Mulberry, and Eri which are indigenous to India and processed and spun by hand without the use of harsh chemicals. For example, Eri silk is indigenous to the North-Eastern region of India. Eri silk's USP is its non-violent or peaceful processing method.
The lustre and sheen varies from type of silk as well as the texture and the softness of the handle. Overall, silk is the strongest natural fiber, has a beautiful drape and is naturally crease resistant. The drawback of silk is that it loses its strength when wet and therefore needs to be treated gently during laundering.


Laundering

Please refer to the specific care instructions on the garment. Dry Clean only.


Ironing

Use a warm iron or steam if needed


Fabric Care For Handwoven Desi Wool

Properties

Anthropologists believe the use of wool came out of the basic challenge to survive in harsh climatic conditions. Humans have sought protection and warmth from the use of wool for the past 13,000 years.

Woollens resist odour, stain and wrinkles, repel water, block harmful UV rays, insulate, and breathe. Organic wool has temperature regulating properties. Wool has moisture-wicking properties that make you feel cool in summer. All these make wool a great choice.This eco-friendly fibre sequesters carbon from the earth. Most wool which Khamir uses is indigenous to India and the fibres are handspun which creates a beautiful, textural character. Handspun wool varies in thickness which causes the dye to penetrate the yarn at different rates. The the subtle variations in texture, colour and weave of handspun and handwoven wool fabrics is easily identifiable. Even those who don’t know why it is different will recognize there is something special and unique about this fabric.

Shrinkage

Wool fibres are covered with tiny scales which causes felting and shrinkage when wet. To avoid felting and shrinkage, wool must be very carefully cleaned.

Laundering

Please refer to the specific care instructions on the garment.

  • We recommend Dry Clean or wash with mild detergent, flat dry.
  • If you choose to hand wash your wool, avoid agitation which causes the scales on the fibres to interlock and felt. Wool is very elastic, so avoid stretching the fabric when wet.
  • If you dry clean, do not store item in plastic bag because wool needs to breathe
  • Store in a dry place with moth repellents like neem leaves, cloves, pepper, Lavender or camphor. Put out in the sun at least once a year. Product feel will improve with washes.

Ironing

Wool is the most crease resistant of all natural fibres. If you need to remove any wrinkles, you can press the item with a damp cloth and use a steam iron. 

Care for Handcrafted Reha Knives

These handcrafted Reha Knives should be treated with care, as they are Reha artisans' labour of love. They say that a bit of prevention is better than cure. Here’s what you need to know to make your knives last a lifetime.

  • Wash the knives with hands, as soon as you finish using them.
  • To clean, hand wash knives with non-abrasive gentle detergent, rinse well and dry. Clean handles with damp cloth and buff with soft dry cloth.
  • Hang them in a block, avoid putting them in drawers to prevent clashing among the knives
  • Use a cutting board at all times
  • Hone and sharpen them regularly

Care for Handcrafted Wooden Products

  • Wood ages as gracefully as wine. Just rub the product with coconut, sunflower or olive oil to show a little care.
  • Hand wash the product after use with non-abrasive gentle detergent and wipe it with a dry cloth.
  • The wood comes with a coat of food-safe varnish that keeps scratches away. It may end up with marks overtime, but that’s just wood ageing.