How to Care for Fine Fabric Children's Clothing

When you invest in beautifully crafted children's clothing — Liberty prints, fine cotton voile, delicate broderie anglaise — knowing how to care for those pieces properly means they last longer, look better, and can even be passed down.

At Jacadi, our garments are made from carefully selected natural fibres. Here's how to keep them looking their best.

Reading the Care Label

Always start with the care label. Our garments use internationally recognised symbols — a basin for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing, and a circle for dry cleaning. When in doubt, choose the gentler option.

Washing Fine Fabrics

• Liberty fabric & fine cotton prints: Machine wash on a delicate or hand-wash cycle at 30°C. Turn garments inside out to protect the print and reduce friction.
• Broderie anglaise & lace trims: Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent. Avoid wringing — gently press out excess water and lay flat to dry.
• Linen & linen blends: Machine wash at 30°C or hand wash. Linen softens beautifully with each wash. Expect slight shrinkage on the first wash, so size up if in doubt.
• Wool & merino: Hand wash or use a wool cycle at 30°C. Never tumble dry — wool felts easily with heat and agitation. Reshape while damp and dry flat.
• Silk & silk blends: Hand wash only in cool water with a specialist silk detergent. Do not soak. Rinse thoroughly and roll in a clean towel to remove moisture before air drying away from direct sunlight.

Drying

Air drying is always preferable for fine children's clothing. Tumble drying can cause shrinkage, pilling, and damage to delicate fibres. Hang or lay flat in a well-ventilated space, away from direct heat or sunlight which can fade colours.

Ironing & Steaming

Most natural fibres benefit from a light press. Use a cool-to-medium iron on cotton and linen, and a cool iron on silk and wool. A handheld steamer is a gentler alternative and works beautifully on smocked details and gathered skirts without flattening the texture.

Storage

Store clean garments in a cool, dry place. For special occasion pieces — ceremony dresses, christening outfits — consider folding in acid-free tissue paper to prevent yellowing. Cedar blocks or lavender sachets are a natural alternative to mothballs for wool and cashmere pieces.

Stain Removal

Act quickly. Blot (never rub) stains with a clean cloth. For most food stains on cotton, a small amount of washing-up liquid worked gently into the fabric before washing is effective. For tougher stains on delicate fabrics, consult a specialist dry cleaner rather than risk damage.

With the right care, a Jacadi dress or smocked blouse can be worn by siblings, gifted to cousins, and treasured for years. Browse our current girls' collection and boys' collection to find your next heirloom piece.