Garment Care
How you wash an OTTI garment is determined by what fabrics and
construction techniques are featured in the garment. As such we have broken
down our garment care guidelines into different fabrics. We are unashamedly
washing geeks!
Washing our garments correctly will make them last longer, and do
justice to the resources that have gone into creating them.
60% Biodegradable polyamide 30% Merino 10% Biodegradable elastane
Hand wash cycle. Not too aggressive as wool fibres can stretch. Max spin of around 800.
Washing at 30 degrees should be goodenough for all but the most extreme of circumstances.
Wash with similar colours.
65% Biodegradable polyamide 35% Merino
Again a hand wash cycle. Max spin of 800.
100% Recycled polyester
Faster spin cycles are fine with this fabric, as it’s pretty sturdy. Anywhere up to 1600, please
use a Guppyfriend or Coraball. Polyester sheds and breaks down every so
slightly in the wash. The garment has plenty of longevity but the shedded
fabric should be kept from our water supply.
100% Recycled down proof polyester
Downncan be pretty intimidating to wash, but fear not! Steer clear of bleach and ironing. Wash
at 30 degrees with your natural laundry detergent of choice. Spin
cycles are fine, as we recommend tumble drying afterwards anyway.
TOP TIP - tumble dry with two clean tennis balls. They will stop the down from
clumping and keep the jacket puffy and warmUse
a Guppyfriend or Coraball to stop plastic being washed downstream
For those of you that don’t have a tumble dryer most cleaner/dryers will
be able to do this for you - just ask!
100% Recycled PES + Film + Tela PA
The taping will last longer with some care and kindness
Best to wash by hand
The proofing (the layer on the surface
of the fabric that makes it waterproof) will wear with time. When water stops
beading on the surface of the fabric then it’s time to reproof:
1. Wash the jacket with a proof on a hand wash cycle
2. Stick in the tumble dryer to activate the proof
30 Degrees vs 40 Degrees
Roughly 75% of the energy required to do a laundry load goes into
heating water. Washing at 30°C uses 38% less
energy than washing at 40°C, so you can not only make a substantial saving on
your utility bill, but also help the planet.
If all of us in the UK made the switch to 30°C, it
could save 858,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted each year. A 30°C program is the recommended setting for a lot of delicate clothes, such as wool and silk –
always check the label though.
Polymer Based Garments
One of the biggest problems our world faces today is plastic pollution,
specifically microplastics as they’re so small. Every time you wash that favourite polyester fleece or running top, you
release thousands of tiny plastic fibres which are called microplastics. These
garments are marvels of modern technology, with their consistent fibre
structure giving an incredible level of performance.
The key is understanding that microplastic shedding
is caused by three things: abrasion, heat and chemicals (from detergent). The
main culprit is abrasion, where synthetic fibres rub against hard fibres (such
as denim), the washing machine drum and each other, and shed into small bits.
You can minimise this by keeping synthetics separate from tougher items such as jeans.
The amount of water used per wash also makes a
difference. They found that a delicate wash paradoxically released more
microplastics, because it used more water. We encourage you to use your washing machine's eco wash program, which uses less water and energy. The water use for different programs should be listed in the manual.
There are some amazing companies creating
simple solutions to help reduce the number of microfibers that enter our
environment each day, such as Planet care, Guppyball and Coraball