Sandhya Garg — Atelier Notes
The Garment Care Guide:
How to Make a Designer Dress Last
Silk · Velvet · Viscose Linen Satin · Cotton Poplin · By Sandhya Garg, Project Runway Designer
Quick Answer
Read the care label before the first wash, always use cold water, air dry instead of tumble drying, and reserve professional dry cleaning for structured pieces, silk, and velvet. Industry experts interviewed by Forbes confirm this is the same standard luxury labels recommend — and the payoff is real: research from the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) found that extending a garment’s active life by just nine months reduces its water, carbon, and waste footprint by roughly 20–30%. Below: fabric-by-fabric care for silk, velvet, viscose linen satin, and cotton — the fabrics your Sandhya Garg pieces are built from.
A limited-edition dress is meant to be worn for years, not once. As a designer trained at London College of Fashion and in the ateliers of Alexander McQueen and Alice Temperley, I think about a garment’s whole life — not just how it photographs on day one, but how it holds its colour, its shape, and its hand-finished detail three years and thirty wears later. Correct care is what makes that possible.
This isn’t just a designer opinion — it’s the consensus among fashion’s own care experts. Forbes’ recent fabric-care feature spoke with industry professionals across several labels; Nicole Woodhouse, Head of Buying at Karen Millen, points out that structured, tailored garments often need dry cleaning because of construction elements invisible to the wearer — interfacing, linings, boning — exactly the kind of construction found in an evening dress. That single insight explains most of what follows.
In This Guide
Care by Fabric
Silk
Silk loses strength when wet, so it must be laundered gently in cold or lukewarm water — hot water will yellow or dull its natural shine permanently. For anything hand-embroidered or beaded, always dry clean; hand embellishment cannot be trusted to a washing machine's agitation.
Never wring. Press with a cloth barrier, never direct heat.
Velvet
Velvet is a dry-clean-only fabric, full stop — the pile crushes permanently under water and machine agitation. Between wears, a light brushing with a soft garment brush lifts the nap and removes surface dust. Store on a padded hanger, never folded, to avoid crease lines in the pile.
Steam from a distance; never press velvet directly with an iron.
Viscose Linen Satin
Our signature print fabric — strong dry, but noticeably weaker wet, so avoid wringing entirely. Hand wash cold or use a gentle machine cycle inside a mesh bag, then lay flat to dry. Its lustrous drape is exactly why hot water and tumble heat are its enemies.
Iron on the reverse side only, medium heat.
Cotton & Poplin
The most forgiving fabric in the wardrobe — machine washable cold to hot, though dark colours (navy especially) can bleed early on, so wash separately for the first few cycles. Tumble dry low, or air dry to further extend garment life.
A light spray starch keeps collars and cuffs crisp.
7 Rules Every Designer Garment Lives By
1. Turn inside out before washing
Protects prints, embroidery, and surface finish from direct agitation.
2. Cold water, always
About 90% of a washing machine’s energy goes toward heating water — cold protects both colour and the planet.
3. Air dry over tumble dry
Dryer heat is the single biggest cause of shrinkage, fading, and fibre breakdown across every fabric type.
4. Spot-clean stains immediately
A stain treated within minutes lifts easily; the same stain a day later may be permanent.
5. Trust a good dry cleaner with the delicates
Velvet, silk, brocade, and tailored jackets are false economy to DIY — a cheap cleaner can ruin a garment as fast as no cleaning at all.
6. Hang embellished pieces, fold knits
Padded hangers for embroidery and beading; flat folding for anything stretchy, to prevent hanger stretch at the shoulders.
7. Air a worn dress before rehanging
Let it hang out fully before returning it to a closed wardrobe — trapped moisture from wear is what causes musty odour over time.
Shop by Fabric · Artisanal · XS to 3XL
Made to Be Cared For — and to Last
Each piece below is built from the fabrics covered in this guide — original prints and hand craft in limited editions, meant to be worn for years with the right care.
All pieces XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL · Custom sizing available · Free US shipping over $250
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wash a silk dress at home?
Hand wash in cold or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent, never wring, and lay flat or hang to dry away from direct sunlight. Hot water will yellow silk permanently. Any silk with hand embroidery, beading, or structured lining is safer left to a professional dry cleaner.
Can velvet be machine washed?
No — velvet is dry-clean only. Water and machine agitation crush the pile permanently, and the crush cannot be reversed. Between wears, a soft garment brush lifts dust and refreshes the nap; store on a padded hanger, never folded.
Does taking care of clothes actually make a sustainability difference?
Yes, measurably. Research from the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme found that extending a garment’s active life by just nine extra months of wear reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprint by roughly 20–30%. Cold-water washing alone has a real impact too: about 90% of a washing machine’s energy use goes toward heating water.
How should I store a dress I'm not wearing this season?
Clean before storing — never store a dress with any trace of wear or sweat, which causes odour and can attract pests over time. Use padded or broad-shouldered hangers for structured or embellished pieces, cotton garment bags rather than plastic (fabric needs to breathe), and a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Why do some designer dresses need dry cleaning when similar-looking dresses don't?
Construction, not just fabric. Nicole Woodhouse, Head of Buying at Karen Millen, explained to Forbes that structured, tailored garments often need dry cleaning because of construction elements invisible to the wearer — interfacing, boning, structured linings. A limited-edition dress with hand embroidery or a fitted bodice usually falls into this category even if the outer fabric alone would be washable.
Keep Reading
The Bigger Picture
Sustainable Fashion
How limited editions fit into a more thoughtful wardrobe.
Fit First
Size Chart
The right fit reduces wear and tear from the start.
Made for You
Custom Sizing
A better fit is the first step to a longer-lasting garment.
The Designer
About Sandhya Garg
Project Runway, McQueen, and a philosophy of craft.
About the Writer
Sandhya Garg is a Project Runway Season 13 designer who won two challenges on the show and presented her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. She studied womenswear at London College of Fashion and worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London, and Alice Temperley. Her Los Angeles label creates limited-edition artisanal dresses and resort wear — featured in Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue online — in sizes XS–3XL with custom sizing available.
Project Runway · Vogue · Marie Claire · XS–3XL
Built to last. Worth caring for.
Sandhya Garg is a Los Angeles boutique creating limited-edition artisanal dresses — original prints, hand embroidery, heritage textiles — made to be worn for years, not once. Sizes XS–3XL, custom sizing available.
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