The Little Tag Can Help Save a Garment’s Life

Dear Fashion Police: I purchased a casual outfit last summer that I didn’t know was made of rayon and needed to be dry-cleaned.

I washed it several times, and now it’s ruined. Maybe you’d like to inform your readers to watch out for things like this.

--LEARNED MY LESSON

Dear Learned: Were you unaware that the outfit was made of rayon because you didn’t check the fiber-content tag, or because there wasn’t one in the first place?

If it’s the former, shame on you for not being a diligent consumer. If it’s the latter, we’re surprised. By law, all garments must include information about the manufacturer or seller, the fiber content (in generic terms), the country where the item was made, and care instructions.

Either way, you’re down one summer outfit, but you’ve gained a lifetime of wisdom that you’re now able to share with others, and that’s a beautiful thing. The first stage of a successful shopping trip is falling in love with something; the second should be checking that little tag. Taking proper care of your clothes is essential for maintaining a great wardrobe and in the long run will save you money.

Although most content and care tags are found at the back of the neck or on the waistband, some are sewn in odd places, such as the middle of a side seam. As you discovered, it’s worth doing a thorough check, even turning the garment inside out if you have to. If you still can’t find anything, ask a salesperson for help.

If you’re buying recycled or vintage clothes and the tag has been removed, take it to a good dry cleaner. Sometimes it can determine the fiber content.

Rayon can be a tricky fiber, said Lezlie Labhard, professor of industrial technology and project director for the Textile Research and Testing Laboratory at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “Rayon is notorious for losing its shape when it’s subjected to moisture and agitation,” which means washing machines often equal death.

Rayon, she explained, is made from wood pulp, which has to be broken down into a solution before it’s made back into a solid. That process breaks down the length of the polymer chains, which results in a weak fabric, whether woven or knitted.

Labhard added that dry-cleaning--which is actually a wet process--uses solvents, which don’t cause the fibers to swell or be pulled apart as much, and that is why it is the preferred cleaning process. Some rayons can be hand-washed, but again, check the label first.

Blending rayon with other fibers such as cotton, linen or polyester adds strength, and sometimes these clothes can be machine washed. But first, check ... OK, you get it.

Labhard also mentioned that a new rayon fiber called lyocell (trade name: Tencel) is stronger than other kinds of rayon because in the production process, “the polymer chains aren’t as broken down, and it doesn’t lose its strength as much.”

The professor gave us one last great piece of advice: If you’re one of those people who habitually cuts out the tags from your clothing, don’t throw them away.

Attach them to a piece of paper with a description of the garment so you’ll have something to refer to when it comes time for cleaning.

*

Dear Fashion Police: I just got the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned--a pair of Dansko clogs that I ordered from a Web site. I couldn’t tell from the online picture, but they turned out to be suede.

My question: Is suede OK for summer? Obviously leather is fine, but I have the sneaking suspicion that suede is not. Just so you know, I’m pregnant and plan to wear my comfy clogs no matter what you say.

--NOT BUDGING

Dear Not: You sure sound spunky and opinionated, and the last thing we want to do is argue with a spunky, opinionated pregnant lady.

But you can put away that sneaking suspicion about suede in summer, because it’s perfectly OK. In fact, there is plenty of spring and summer suede footwear available, including Spiegel’s aqua suede chunky-heel sandals, Steve Madden’s black suede platform sandals, and DKNY’s faux suede sporty mules. As long as your clogs look like summer footwear--they’re a light color and aren’t big and heavy--wear them all you want. You will anyway.

We suspect you may be hanging on to fashion rule relics that mandated suede was suitable only for fall and winter because of its texture. But today, suede is soft, light, and comes in pretty spring pastels and summer brights, perfect for fashion mavericks like you.

*

Write to Fashion Police, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to jeannine.stein@latimes.com.