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CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF SUITS

The purpose of this guide is to provide you with all the information necessary to preserve Canali suits well and maintain them over time, with the same sustainable and eco-friendly attitude that the company has adopted to produce them. Because the longer their lifespan, the lower the environmental footprint of those who create and own them.

Brushing

One way to keep a suit clean after each wear or between washes is to brush it for a few seconds. Just place it on a hanger (avoid metal ones because they can deform it), empty the pockets and run a brush with natural bristles over it from top to bottom, with firm yet gentle movements. This procedure will enable you to remove dust and impurities from the fabrics.

Washing

To keep a suit for a long time, you should avoid washing it too frequently. If well preserved, Canali fabrics are very durable; however, they are also very precious and delicate: you therefore risk ruining the fibres if you dry clean or hand wash the suit repeatedly (machine washing is definitely to be avoided).
First, check the garment label and the types of washing allowed.
The most common types are hand washing and dry cleaning but, in both cases, some precautions must be taken.

Dry cleaning allows you to disinfect the garment by getting rid of germs and bacteria. However, solvents are used for this type of washing which can corrode and damage the fabrics over time.
Our advice is to dry clean a couple of times a year at most.
When hand washing, however, you can soak the garment in a basin with plenty of warm water and very gentle products with a pH lower than 7. High alkalinity can actually damage the fibres.
To sanitise, you can also add Amuchina, or a pinch of baking soda. However, it is always a good idea to check the fabric or blend of your suit first, because not all products are suitable for certain fibres.

Ironing

Getting rid of creases is always tricky, especially when it comes to a delicate and valuable suit. The most common methods are ironing and steaming (or a vertical steam iron).
First, check the fabric (or blend of fabrics) of the suit as the recommended temperature varies according to the material.
If you are using an iron, we always recommend placing a clean, damp cotton cloth between the iron and the garment, to prevent direct contact with the soleplate from damaging the fibres. To get rid of creases in a cotton or linen suit, ironing is a must as these fabrics tend to crease, while for a wool suit, steam ironing is enough.

Steam ironing has numerous advantages. It is:

gentle, because it does not burn the fibres;
practical, because you don't need an ironing board;
functional, today's vertical steamers are also foldable and portable;
hygienizing, because it sanitizes garments by eliminating germs and bacteria.

Final tips for ironing jackets and trousers: for jackets, it is advisable to have a sleeve board so that you can reach every angle easily. For trousers, on the other hand, we recommend hanging and ironing the garment inside out, separating out the pockets and ironing these first, so that they do not create unwanted creases.

Storage

To keep a suit for a long time, we recommend storing it in special suit covers during the change in season. Avoid suit covers or garment bags made of non-breathable materials as, if used for a long time, they could encourage mould or bad smells. The ideal is a suit cover made of breathable fibres or canvas that allows you to store the garments in an upright position on a wooden hanger.

One of the best woods is cedar as it absorbs moisture, gives off a nice aroma, and keeps insects away. We recommend avoiding metal hangers as they have no grip and can deform the garments. Finally, before putting away your suit, empty the pockets, because leaving them full for a long time can change the construction of the garment.

Method and frequency of use

To conclude this guide, don't forget that wearing a suit for several days in a row is detrimental to the fabrics. To keep your wardrobe sustainable, it is therefore necessary to wear your suits sparingly: alternating them, and not wearing the same ones for more than two consecutive days proves to be the best solution. Each time you change your suit, hang the one you have just worn on a wooden hanger, brush it, as explained above, and let it air for a full day before putting it away.

KNITWEAR

SHOES AND BAGS