Care Guide for the Shawl Collar Cardigan

So that's it, you've taken the plunge, and you’re already cosying up to the Cardigan’s plush collar. Life in a cardigan is something, isn’t it?

The idea behind this little guide is to keep it looking good for as long as possible.

Its kilo of extra-soft merino wool will take care of you like no other, and the least you can do is return the favour.

As you know, merino wool is anti-bacterial. This means that it doesn't encourage the growth of bacteria thanks to the structure of its fibres. As a result, it doesn't retain odours and doesn't start smelling like a goat after three hours.

Air it out for a while between wears and wash it every 10-12 wears that should be more than enough. That way not only will you save money, but you’ll also maximise its lifespan. Win-win.

There are three solutions here. As we're a friendly bunch, we've listed them below from the most to the least recommended:

• Unsurprisingly, dry cleaning at a dry cleaner's is our favourite method, since it's the least traumatic for the fibres, but not necessarily for the wallet.
• Hand washing is also possible, and is best done by soaking your knit in a basin of cold clear water with a dab of organic washing-up liquid.
• If this good old manual technique doesn't appeal to you, you can opt for the washing machine, taking care to put it in a laundry net, select a wool and/or delicate programme (30°C maximum) and leave out the rinse spin cycle.

With woollen items, there's only one option to consider: drying flat in a well-ventilated area. Stay away from the tumble dryer as it ruins the fabric and hanging on a line tends to deform jumpers due to the weight of the water-soaked knit,

Incidentally, if you've chosen to hand wash your cardigan, don't wring it out before drying. Twisting would break the fibres and give your precious item an undesirable shape. In this case, fold your Shawl Collar Cardigan and press against it t to get most of the water out.

Last but not least: avoid direct sunlight during this step, as it may discolour your Cardigan in the long term.

Knits are wary of hangers like the plague, and rightly so. Hanging them by the shoulders can warp them, so just make sure you fold them like good old T-shirts.

And if you have cedar wood or lavender sachets to hand, don't hesitate to put them in your cupboard: they're natural moth repellents that will prevent your knitwear from becoming a feast for those nasty bugs.

Since 1 January 2024, the New French environmental legislation known as The AGEC Law stipulates transparency from our lot in the fashion industry so that you can make an informed purchase. As you can imagine, this is something that we fully support at Asphalte. So here's some additional information about our Shawl Collar Cardigans:

• They’re 100% recyclable after being dismantled, which means that the day their services are no longer required every component can be fully recycled. If you stop wearing them for whatever reason, you might want to consider making someone else happy by passing them on to a friend, family member or donating them to a charity. The best way of reducing an item of clothing’s impact is by keeping it in circulation, and only recycling it when there really is no life or use left in it.
• No microplastics are released during washing. Unlike many garments, Shawl Collar Cardigans have been designed to not release any microplastics. Plastic microfibres are tiny particles of plastic that are released when worn or washed and have a negative impact on aquatic and land ecosystems.
• They do not contain any hazardous materials. They’re manufactured in compliance with strict standards aimed at eliminating the use of harmful substances and other chemical nasties.
• They do not contain any recycled materials. We try and incorporate recycled materials whenever we can, unfortunately, it hasn’t been possible to do so with the Shawl Collar Cardigan.

So there you have it, you now know everything there is to know about looking after your Shawl Collar Cardigans. If we've missed something or you have any questions hit us up in the comment section below or heresupport@asphalte.com.

We'll be back in touch in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on.

Until then,

The Asphalte Team