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The People Tree Guide to Caring for Fair Trade Clothing

By carefully following these instructions, your clothes will look good for a longer and more good news, this is also better for the environment! Please note unless otherwise stated, it is best to wash clothes on a cool or cold wash setting using a gentle, non-bleach based washing powder. 



Hand Woven

With hand woven fabrics, slubs other irregularities naturally occur therefore care should be taken to avoid snagging. All People Tree fabrics undergo laboratory testing to ensure that they comply with required quality standards. Please see our detailed care labels which are written and attached to each item to ensure your garment enjoys a long life and you enjoy wearing it!


Hand Dyed

Most of our woven fabrics are hand dyed which means slight colour variations make every item unique. We recommend that care instructions are followed carefully to minimize colour transfer and fading. Many of these garments would benefit from being hand washed separately and should always be dried away from direct heat and sunlight to prolong their life span



Hand Embroidered

We use intricate hand embroidery on many of our garments making each item truly a one of a kind. They should be treated with great care to prevent threads pulling. Please wash inside out and do not iron directly on embroidered areas.



Hand Knitted Garments

For all of our hand knitted garments we recommend hand washing to retain the shape and appearance of your garment. Please follow the steps below to wash your hand knitted garment.



To retain its shape and appearance we recommend hand washing separately:

  • Use a non-biological delicate detergent like Ecover Delicate to avoid colour loss and the use of harsh chemicals. Always wash dark colours separately.
  • Turn the garment inside out and wash the garment by hand in lukewarm water. Gently agitate the knitted garment to clean. Do not soak, wring or rub too hard.
  • Rinse using fresh cold water. Repeat until the water is free of soap suds.
  • Remove excess water by squeezing carefully and then wrap in a clean towel and press gently. Alternatively a gentle short spin is acceptable.
  • Do not tumble dry as it is liable to cause felting and shrinkage.
  • Reshape the garment and dry flat on a towel, away from direct heat and sunlight.
  • If required iron your garment using the wool setting as stated on the care label.
  • Store folded, not on hangers, to avoid stretching out on a hanger.


    • Please note:

    If you have specific Wool Wash on your washing machine you can use this, but follow the instructions below:

  • Use a non-biological delicate detergent like Ecover Delicate to avoid colour loss and the use of harsh chemicals. Always wash dark colours separately.
  • Turn the garment inside out and wash the garment on a cold wool wash cycle with a gentle short spin. Wash inside a pillow case or net bag to reduce agitation.
  • Do not tumble dry as it is liable to cause felting and shrinkage.
  • Reshape the garment and dry flat on a towel, away from direct heat and sunlight.
  • If required iron your garment using the wool setting as stated on the care label.
  • Store folded, not on hangers, to avoid stretching out on a hanger. 
  • Due to the natural characteristics of wool some pilling does occur. Pilling can be removed using a comb or lint remover, but take care to do it gently and do not depill too often.

    • Jewellery

    If you wear, clean and store jewellery carefully, it will last longer. Jewellery should always be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. We would recommend cleaning jewellery after wear and avoid jewellery coming into contact with cosmetics, perfume, water or oil. If you can, try to store jewellery in a box or bag away from light, dust and moisture.


    How to clean copper and brass: 

    Copper and Brass tarnish more quickly than silver but they can be restored to their original shine very easily. Here are two natural methods for cleaning copper and brass.

  • Ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce or Vinegar. Apply carefully with a toothbrush or soft cloth, leave on for a couple of minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Polish regularly with a clean soft cloth. Avoid getting these products on stones which should not be exposed to chemical cleaners.
  • Use a combination of water and lemon, add a few drops of lemon juice to a container of water and stir gently. Place the jewellery in the solution for a few minutes, then remove and rinse thoroughly. As before this method should not be used with gemstones or pearls that cannot be cleaned with chemical cleaners.

    • Please note, do not use Chemical Cleaners:

    Many stones will be adversely affected by harsh chemical cleaners. Many will discolour and some may eventually break apart. The stones which are particularly vulnerable include Amber, Aquamarine, Coral, Emerald, Jade, Lapis, Malachite, Opal, Pearls, Shell and Turquoise. If in doubt, simply do not use any chemicals.

    Light Sensitive Stones:

    Many stones will bleach in strong light if left exposed for long periods of time. They will lose their bright colour and eventually become drab and unattractive. The stones which are vulnerable to sunlight include Amethyst, Ametrine, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Beryl, Celestite, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Hiddenite, Kunzite, Rose and Smoky Quartz, Fluorite and Topaz.


    Please note:

    The colour of jewellery products may change over time because of interactions with oil or chemicals on your skin. Glass, beads and delicate natural materials may break if dropped. Do not put jewellery in your mouth, and keep away from children.
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