Ode to Hermes Poncho

[etoile de mer]

Ummmm. I have. In the washer!

I did so on delicate, then laid out to dry. The tassels and leather trip took a day or more, and you need to handle them nicely so they dry nice. You also need to take care and re-stretch the wool out a bit (though it doesn't pull in very much).

I think the next time I'll wash by hand.

It might go without saying, but I can be a bit fearless with textiles.

So interested to hear this, arabesques! I hand wash all my silks, and cashmere (some of which go the the washer on the hand wash cycle), but have been very hesitant to buy any wool items with leather trim, as I prefer to clean my own items rather than send them out. I just assumed it would be a cleaning conundrum with the mix of materials. How did the leather trim and tassels fare? I just assumed it would dry out the leather, or make it very unhappy!

 

[arabesques]

So interested to hear this, arabesques! I hand wash all my silks, and cashmere (some of which go the the washer on the hand wash cycle), but have been very hesitant to buy any wool items with leather trim, as I prefer to clean my own items rather than send them out. I just assumed it would be a cleaning conundrum with the mix of materials. How did the leather trim and tassels fare? I just assumed it would dry out the leather, or make it very unhappy!

There was no harm at all to the leather. This isn't bag leather (generally speaking). Think about saddles—you traditionally dunk them thoroughly into water, soap em up, and allow them to slowly dry. This leather felt exactly as before—you just need to make sure that the tassels are drying in shape.

For me, it was the only solution—dry cleaning chemicals are not something my skin can handle, and city life is just too dirty to not clean them thoroughly. I wouldn't use the washer next time, but I would do it by hand in the big sink.

 

[Gixxer]

Oh please please be careful with merino wool in the washing machine! I've ruined no less than a dozen (in one go) fine merino wool jumpers in the washing machine (they weren't Hermès but still). The centrifugal force can turn that blanket into a thick tea towel in no time. I have a rainbow of felt to prove it. (Actually I don't; I got rid of all the evidence as my heart couldn't take it no more!).

 

[papertiger]

I am not the biggest fan of dry cleaning either but I'm not chancing it in the washing machine even though I have tried a vintage and recent jacket, both pure wool (basically it was 'last chance saloon' for both of them and I was surprised they came out so well. I know there is plenty of washable leather and suede around now too but not Berenia leather. One day I could envisage me hand washing and leaving the tassels out the water perhaps.

 

[calexandre]

I'm not nearly as brave as Arabesques with my H pieces-- she has academic expertise in textiles, which I don't! But I can vouch that her poncho looks exactly the same after coming through the wash. I was pretty astounded!

I've been contemplating the cleaning question myself recently. I was on a wildly turbulent flight out of Seoul in mid-December (you may have seen it on the news because there were about 14 injuries and we had to divert to Tokyo). I was wearing my poncho when all the glass and china on the plane hit the ceiling and shattered, so I ended up covered in red wine from other passengers' glasses. I dabbed myself off with my blanket, and was surprised that most of the wine vanished-- score one for the poncho's stain-repellent abilities-- but there are a few tiny spots left here and there. I'm sure I'm the only one who notices them, so I've been debating whether or not to try to spot-clean them, since I'm sure it's too late for a dry cleaner to do anything about them. I've had great luck with mixing hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to remove set red wine stains in the past, but I'm not sure I want to risk lightening those areas of the poncho when it probably doesn't really show that much.

 

[dharma]

I'm not nearly as brave as Arabesques with my H pieces-- she has academic expertise in textiles, which I don't! But I can vouch that her poncho looks exactly the same after coming through the wash. I was pretty astounded!

I've been contemplating the cleaning question myself recently. I was on a wildly turbulent flight out of Seoul in mid-December (you may have seen it on the news because there were about 14 injuries and we had to divert to Tokyo). I was wearing my poncho when all the glass and china on the plane hit the ceiling and shattered, so I ended up covered in red wine from other passengers' glasses. I dabbed myself off with my blanket, and was surprised that most of the wine vanished-- score one for the poncho's stain-repellent abilities-- but there are a few tiny spots left here and there. I'm sure I'm the only one who notices them, so I've been debating whether or not to try to spot-clean them, since I'm sure it's too late for a dry cleaner to do anything about them. I've had great luck with mixing hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to remove set red wine stains in the past, but I'm not sure I want to risk lightening those areas of the poncho when it probably doesn't really show that much.

the flight! My worst nightmare . I'm so happy to hear you are ok
(And the poncho too!)

 

[dharma]

I am not the biggest fan of dry cleaning either but I'm not chancing it in the washing machine even though I have tried a vintage and recent jacket, both pure wool (basically it was 'last chance saloon' for both of them and I was surprised they came out so well. I know there is plenty of washable leather and suede around now too but not Berenia leather. One day I could envisage me hand washing and leaving the tassels out the water perhaps.

Not a poncho, but I did this recently with a light colored canvas bag and just left the leather bits out of the water, it worked great.

 

[dharma]

I love everyone's poncho pics, very chic and enabling. Unfortunately I fear that I would look like I am in search of the next Grateful Dead show.......
I love how it looks with clean, classic clothing and boots, very lux and beautiful.

 

[HfromT]

I'm not nearly as brave as Arabesques with my H pieces-- she has academic expertise in textiles, which I don't! But I can vouch that her poncho looks exactly the same after coming through the wash. I was pretty astounded!

I've been contemplating the cleaning question myself recently. I was on a wildly turbulent flight out of Seoul in mid-December (you may have seen it on the news because there were about 14 injuries and we had to divert to Tokyo). I was wearing my poncho when all the glass and china on the plane hit the ceiling and shattered, so I ended up covered in red wine from other passengers' glasses. I dabbed myself off with my blanket, and was surprised that most of the wine vanished-- score one for the poncho's stain-repellent abilities-- but there are a few tiny spots left here and there. I'm sure I'm the only one who notices them, so I've been debating whether or not to try to spot-clean them, since I'm sure it's too late for a dry cleaner to do anything about them. I've had great luck with mixing hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to remove set red wine stains in the past, but I'm not sure I want to risk lightening those areas of the poncho when it probably doesn't really show that much.

First of all, calexandre, I can't believe you were on that epic flight!!! I loathe flying in general, but that experience would have left me earth-bound for the rest of my life!!

I'm wondering, since you and arabesques are buddies, perhaps she could walk you through the steps needed to remove your stains. She does seem like an expert on textiles...you would be in good hands!

 

[CocoSoCo]

Thanks everyone for your opinions on washing the poncho. Definitely something to consider!

 

[Hermes Nuttynut]

Ummmm. I have. In the washer!

I did so on delicate, then laid out to dry. The tassels and leather trip took a day or more, and you need to handle them nicely so they dry nice. You also need to take care and re-stretch the wool out a bit (though it doesn't pull in very much).

I think the next time I'll wash by hand.

It might go without saying, but I can be a bit fearless with textiles.

I'm surprised it didn't felt it!!

 

[arabesques]

I'm surprised it didn't felt it!!

It's boiled wool and cashmere. It's already felted in a way.

But I've never come across a knitted textile in which a washer would felt it. Felting is a specific process.

 

[arabesques]

I'm not nearly as brave as Arabesques with my H pieces-- she has academic expertise in textiles, which I don't! But I can vouch that her poncho looks exactly the same after coming through the wash. I was pretty astounded!

I've been contemplating the cleaning question myself recently. I was on a wildly turbulent flight out of Seoul in mid-December (you may have seen it on the news because there were about 14 injuries and we had to divert to Tokyo). I was wearing my poncho when all the glass and china on the plane hit the ceiling and shattered, so I ended up covered in red wine from other passengers' glasses. I dabbed myself off with my blanket, and was surprised that most of the wine vanished-- score one for the poncho's stain-repellent abilities-- but there are a few tiny spots left here and there. I'm sure I'm the only one who notices them, so I've been debating whether or not to try to spot-clean them, since I'm sure it's too late for a dry cleaner to do anything about them. I've had great luck with mixing hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to remove set red wine stains in the past, but I'm not sure I want to risk lightening those areas of the poncho when it probably doesn't really show that much.

First of all, calexandre, I can't believe you were on that epic flight!!! I loathe flying in general, but that experience would have left me earth-bound for the rest of my life!!

I'm wondering, since you and arabesques are buddies, perhaps she could walk you through the steps needed to remove your stains. She does seem like an expert on textiles...you would be in good hands!

The challenge has been raised, dear buddy. Bring it over you know when.

 

[Hermes Nuttynut]

It's boiled wool and cashmere. It's already felted in a way.

But I've never come across a knitted textile in which a washer would felt it. Felting is a specific process.

I put a cashmere/wool sweater into the washer to shrink it. Imagine my surprise when it came out felted! Oops!! I'm pretty sure I won't do that again, unless I want another felted sweater!

 

[etoile de mer]

There was no harm at all to the leather. This isn't bag leather (generally speaking). Think about saddles—you traditionally dunk them thoroughly into water, soap em up, and allow them to slowly dry. This leather felt exactly as before—you just need to make sure that the tassels are drying in shape.

For me, it was the only solution—dry cleaning chemicals are not something my skin can handle, and city life is just too dirty to not clean them thoroughly. I wouldn't use the washer next time, but I would do it by hand in the big sink.

Many thanks for your reply, arabesques, and for the info. I also prefer to avoid dry cleaning when possible. Even though the use of PERC is banned here, and my dry cleaner uses an environmentally safe cleaning method, I still like to care for my own things. I've eyed Loro Piana items in the past, that combine cashmere and leather, and it's good to know that self care could be an option.