Caring for Your Bags & Accessories

The Fabrics

A variety of textiles are used in the collections, including new, vintage, and reclaimed materials. Many of the outdoor polyester/acrylic fabrics resemble cotton and make a great choice for fabric bags. I take pride in the quality of the fabrics I use, however note that almost all fabrics will show signs of wear over time. Here are a few tips for caring for your bags and accessories:

hand-Wash / air-dry

I pre-wash most my fabrics in cool water and air-dry. This means you can hand-wash your fabric bags and accessories with mild detergent and cool water. Note that most of the fabric bags are built with interfacing or padding; let most of the water drip out, and try to resist wringing your wet bag. Larger fabric bags can be set on a towel to drip-dry; if you are concerned about any of the design details of your bag becoming deformed, try loosely stuffing with a plastic bag to maintain its original shape while drying. Smaller, lighter items may be hung or laid flat or hung to dry. The UV-resistant upholstery fabrics may be dried outdoors. Vinyl and mesh surfaces can be cleaned with a damp sponge. Stains: Use liquid stain removers as directed.

Special Care

Other fabrics including 100% silk or wool may need special care:
• I have found some informative tips for hand-washing silks here.
• Any wool fabrics I use are generally not pre-washed, and will require professional cleaning.
• Pilling? Just as with clothing, you may find that removing pills from time to time will keep your collection of handbags and accessories looking fresh and new. Technique: pull the fabric taut over a curved surface, such as your knee, and carefully cut off pills with small sharp scissors, or shave the fabric surface with a safety razor. There are also battery operated pill removers, which shave pills much like an electric razor.

Protection

If your bag is used regularly, non-toxic "Vectra 16" fabric protector is recommended to repel spills and extended life, and may also be used for apparel, shoes and other handbags (find it at http://www.vectraspray.com). Be sure to wash your item before treating with a new fabric protector to remove any residual coatings applied by the fabric manufacturers, to avoid any possible incompatibility.

Kilim Rug Products

The Caravan Collection is based on handwoven Kilim Rugs from Turkey or other parts of the world. The yarns used for these rugs are dyed with pigments that may run when wet. I personally hand-wash each rug before constructing my pieces, removing as much of the residual dyes as possible. However, I recommend that you take care when carrying the bags in rain or wet environments. Professionally clean, spot clean with mild soap and water, or hand-wash the entire piece with plenty of running water in a large tub or sink, and rinse until the water is clear.

IRONING

OK: Cotton, polyester and silk fabrics may be ironed with the appropriate heat setting on your iron.
NO: Never iron vinyl or mesh products.
NO: Never iron handbag straps.
NO: Never iron the "Gstudio" product labels.

Resources: Calico Corners, FabricLink.com, www.vectraspray.com