Kinalba Cashmere Care Instructions

HOW SHOULD I CLEAN OR WASH MY " KINALBA" CASHMERE?

Stick exclusively to dry cleaning—this is the safest option. The cashmere products at Kinalba are typically accessories rather than garments such as sweaters. Every Kinalba product features fringe, which would generally be damaged if the item were fully washed in water. However, you shouldn’t overdo it with dry cleaning: Have the products cleaned only rarely and strictly as needed.

CAN I WASH THIS GARMENT BY HAND OR IN THE WASHING MACHINE?

We advise against this. Cashmere is incredibly soft. Once it gets wet, its shape and texture can change. The mechanical stress caused by water can lead to deformation, shrinkage, matting, and pilling. It’s best to keep your beautiful, soft, and fluffy cashmere items exactly as they were when you bought them.

WHAT ABOUT PRODUCTS MADE FROM A CASHMERE-SILK BLEND?

Our cashmere and silk products are made from a fine blend that has been dyed using meticulous processes to ensure durability and colorfastness. However, any water-based washing (at temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius) using soap or detergents can cause the colors to bleed. Therefore, just as with pure cashmere wool, we recommend that products made from cashmere-silk blends be dry-cleaned only when absolutely necessary.

DO I EVEN NEED TO CLEAN MY CASHMERE ACCESSORIES?

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. The good news, however, is that Kinalba accessories usually don't require much maintenance unless there's a reason to clean them. If necessary, you can take your Kinalba product to a dry cleaner.

WHAT ABOUT PILLING OR BALLING?

Pilling occurs when a fine fiber—such as cashmere—is subjected to mechanical stress, for example, from contact between your neck and a scarf. You’ll notice small fiber knots—known as “pills.” This may be more noticeable at first on a new product with a slightly rough surface, but don’t worry: it will soon subside.

Lower-quality cashmere products are typically made from fibers that are 28 mm long. The shorter the fiber, the more prone the material is to pilling. Fortunately, at Kinalba , we use longer fibers—ranging from 34 to 36 mm—which allows us to ensure our products have the best possible durability.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the extent of pilling in textiles is measured using the “Martindale Abrasion and Pilling Tester”? This measurement technique is recognized worldwide as the standard method for determining the abrasion resistance of textiles as well as their resistance to pilling. This method was invented by Dr. James Martindale, then director of the Scottish College of Textiles—right here in Galashiels. We suspect we might be a little more excited about this fact than you are!

HELP! I HAVE A STAIN ON IT—WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Don't panic! Gently blot the stain with an absorbent paper towel to soak up as much liquid as possible. If that doesn't work, take your garment to the dry cleaner or treat yourself to a new scarf!

Please do not wash this garment in the washing machine under any circumstances.