Fabric and care

Reading the fiber line

U.S. labels list each fiber by its generic name and its share by weight, largest first. So "60% polyester, 35% cotton, 5% spandex" means polyester makes up most of the fabric, cotton about a third, and a small amount of spandex is there for stretch.

The Federal Trade Commission, which writes the labeling rules, allows a fiber under 5% to be named when it does a job at that amount, and a little spandex for stretch is its own example. You may also see spandex called elastane, and rayon called viscose: both names are allowed.

Our two main blends

• 60% polyester, 35% cotton, 5% spandex. Most tees, 3/4 sleeve tops, tunics and tanks. Light, soft, a little stretchy, and it dries fast on a line.
• 60% cotton, 40% polyester fleece. The fleece hoodies and fleece sweatshirts. Warmer and heavier, with a soft inside.
• Ribbed knits. The ribbed tunic, the ribbed notch V-neck tee and the ribbed polo use rayon or cotton with spandex or elastane, and stretch more than the rest.

Washing knit tees and tanks

Wash cold, with like colors, and skip the bleach. Hang or line dry where the label says so, or tumble dry low where it allows it. Heat is what shrinks cotton and dulls color, so the cooler cycle is the safer one.

Turn a top inside out before it goes in the machine. The outside rubs less against zippers and jeans, which is where fuzz and pilling start.

Lace, pleats and puff sleeves

The dressy styles ask for more care: hand wash, or wash cold inside a laundry bag, then lay flat or hang to dry. Keep the iron away from lace, and press pleats with your hands while the top is damp.

Sweatshirts and fleece

Wash fleece cold on a gentle cycle and dry it low or on a rack. Some of our light fleece styles ask you to avoid stain remover pens, which can mark thin fleece. Wash a new dark sweatshirt apart from light clothes the first time.

The label on your top wins

Every garment sold in the U.S. carries a permanent care label, and its maker needs a reasonable basis for each instruction on it. If a label says "Do not iron" or shows a symbol instead of words, follow it: it was written for that piece.