Fabric care guide

Linen doesn't need specialist care, just a little of attention and a gentle hand for longevity. Made from flax plant fibres, linen has been used for thousands of years - with humble beginnings, care is very simple too. And the best news? Linen improves with age - becoming increasingly soft and tactile to wear.

A more eco-friendly and sustainable option than cotton, our tips are very simple to care for your Montaigne items:

• Ask yourself - does it really need washing. In the interests of minimising power and water usage, we recommend wearing your clothes a number of times before heading to the laundry. Your clothes will last longer and our planet will thank you.
• First wash? To limit dye running, we recommend washing deep colours with a cup of salt added to the initial wash. 
• It's advisable to wash pieces separately - particularly if they're new. Never wash white garments with colours. 
• It is always recommended to hand wash your linen in lukewarm water.
• Lie flat in shade if possible.
• If you're tumble drying - we recommend you stick with low temperatures, and remove the item from the dryer when still slightly damp to avoid the linen stiffening, we love to pop our pieces on a hanger to complete the drying process. 
• Ironing? Well you don't have to - because part of the joy of linen is the relaxed, draped look, and those crumples just add to the appeal. If you love a crisper look, we strongly recommend ironing while the garment is still damp. A medium-hot iron with the steam setting should have your piece look sharp in no time. If you're ironing a dark piece - we recommend only ironing on the reverse side.