Care Guide

Linen is alive.

It wrinkles. It softens. It gets more beautiful every time you wear it.

Unlike synthetic fabrics that degrade with washing, natural linen actually improves with age and care. The more you wear your Jiwa Bali pieces, the softer and more personal they become — moulding gently to your body, carrying your story.

This guide will help you keep your pieces beautiful for years to come.

Before You Wear

We recommend washing your piece before wearing it for the first time. Our linen is already pre-washed before cutting and sewing, and one more gentle wash at home will soften it even further — the beginning of your piece becoming truly yours.

Washing

Both hand washing and machine washing are suitable for your Jiwa Bali pieces — choose whichever fits your routine.

Hand wash Fill a basin with cold or lukewarm water (max 30°C). Add a small amount of gentle, natural liquid detergent. Submerge your piece and gently move it through the water — no scrubbing, no wringing. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Machine wash Use the delicate or gentle cycle, cold water only — 30°C maximum. Place your piece inside a mesh laundry bag to protect it, use a gentle, natural detergent, and never use bleach or fabric softener — both damage linen fibres over time. Avoid spinning where possible, or use the lowest spin speed your machine offers — a fast spin cycle can crease and strain the fibres.

What to avoid

Water above 30°C — linen can shrink in hot water
Harsh detergents or bleach — they weaken the fibres
Wringing or twisting — this distorts the shape
High-speed spinning — strains the fibres and sets in deep creases
Washing with rough fabrics — keep linen separate
Dry cleaning — not required and not recommended for our pieces

Drying

Line dry, without delay — never tumble dry As soon as washing finishes, lay your piece flat on a clean dry towel or hang it on a padded hanger, away from direct sunlight. Don't leave it damp in the machine or basin — drying promptly helps the fabric keep its shape and prevents set-in wrinkles.

Linen dries quickly — usually within a few hours in a warm room or gentle breeze.

Shape the piece gently while still damp — this minimises wrinkles and helps it dry in form.

What to avoid

Tumble dryer — heat damages linen and causes shrinkage
Leaving pieces damp for extended periods — can cause mildew and set-in creasing
Direct sunlight for extended periods — fades color
Hanging heavy wet pieces by the shoulders — can distort the shape

Ironing & Wrinkles

Linen wrinkles. That's part of its soul.

We encourage you to embrace the natural texture of linen — the gentle creases are not imperfections, they are the fabric being itself. A slightly wrinkled linen dress is one of the most beautiful things.

If you prefer a smoother finish:

Iron while still slightly damp — linen responds best this way
Use a warm iron on the linen setting
Iron on the reverse side to protect the surface
A light mist of water helps stubborn creases release

Storage

Store clean and completely dry — never store damp linen
Fold loosely or hang — avoid tight folding in the same place repeatedly
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space
Avoid plastic bags — linen needs to breathe
Cedar or lavender sachets near your linen pieces will naturally deter moths

Pilling & Fabric Care

Natural linen may develop slight pilling in high-friction areas with wear — this is completely normal for natural fibres. A fabric shaver gently removes any pills and restores the surface.

Linen becomes softer and more pliable with each wash — this is a feature, not a flaw. New linen pieces may feel slightly stiff at first. After a few washes they will soften beautifully.

A Note on Natural Variation

Each Jiwa Bali piece is made from natural linen — a living material grown from the flax plant. You may notice slight variations in texture, weave and tone between pieces. These are not defects — they are the fingerprint of natural fabric. No two pieces are exactly alike.

This is what makes your piece yours.

Quick Reference

	Do	Don't
Wash	Cold hand wash or gentle machine cycle, 30°C max	Hot water, bleach, fabric softener, dry cleaning
Dry	Line dry promptly, flat or on padded hanger	Tumble dry, direct sunlight, leaving damp
Iron	Damp, warm iron, reverse side	Dry iron on high heat
Store	Cool, dry, breathable space	Plastic bags, damp storage