By consciously caring for your accessory with correct handling, storage and maintenance you can preserve its beauty, prolong its life and in turn reduce your environmental impact.
To make your product care journey a little easier, we’ve put together the ultimate care guide so your new item can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Storing your Accessory
Follow these simple rules for storing your raffia and leather accessories to ensure they stay in pristine condition when you’re not using them.
1. Store your bag in its original dust bag.
2. Make sure it is in a ventilated space away from direct light and moisture. Air once every two weeks to halt any growth of mould.
3. Fill with stuffing to ensure it maintains its shape. Note: avoid printed or coloured paper as it may transfer onto your accessory over time.
4. Ensure the bag isn’t pressed against any hard surfaces. The key here is to ensure your bag keeps its shape, and doesn’t squash down or flatten.
5. Rotation is key. Everyday use of your bag contributes to wear, so switch things occasionally.
Maintaining
The raffia Helen Kaminski uses has been sorted and split by our artisans, who form each braid by hand. As raffia is a natural fibre, overtime, these edges may come loose causing strands to poke out and look a little ‘hairy’.
Simply use a pair of scissors to carefully snip off the fly away strands. It won’t damage the braid at all. Or you can drop your bag into a Helen Kaminski store and one of our team members will trim and refresh your accessory for you.
Reshaping
Raffia has a natural resin and while it may start to break down and soften after a while, you can help reactivate the natural resins and bring your bag back to shape by using a little steam.
1. Stuff the bag with plain acid free tissue paper to support its original shape.
2. Use a domestic iron on the steam setting or a traditional clothes steamer. Steam the outer and inner sections of the bag until warm and slightly moist to touch. Make sure the iron plate is about 10cm away.
3. Reform the bag to the desired shape with your hands.
4. Allow to cool and dry naturally in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Cleaning
Raffia:
Spot clean the raffia using a soft cloth, cold water and mild detergent then allow it to naturally dry. Consult a dry-cleaning professional for stain removal.
Leather:
Sometimes our accessories can get a little dirty if they are used regularly. To help preserve the appearance of the leather, it is recommended to regularly clean any dirt or build-up using a soft damp cloth, or a professional leather cleaner or conditioner.
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