How to care for Polish folk costumes

Woollen broadcloth

Jackets, waistcoats and other items made of woollen broadcloth are best dry-cleaned professionally.

After wearing, air the garment and gently clean it with a soft clothes brush. Small marks can be carefully dabbed with a clean, slightly damp cloth – without rubbing hard.

Do not machine wash, soak, wring or tumble dry. Dry away from radiators, direct sunlight and other heat sources.

Striped wool fabrics

We recommend dry-cleaning skirts and aprons made of striped wool. Washing in water may shrink the fabric, change its shape or make the colours run.

Striped wool can be aired regularly and brushed gently in the direction of the weave. Do not rub hard, soak or wring it.

Iron only when necessary, on the reverse side, through a cotton cloth, at a temperature suitable for wool.

Cotton velvet

Bodices and other items made of cotton velvet are best cleaned professionally. We do not recommend machine washing or hand soaking, as this can distort the stiffened cut, flatten the pile and damage the decorations.

Do not iron velvet directly on the right side. Creases can be gently smoothed with steam, without pressing the iron onto the fabric.

Cotton linen and voile

Blouses, shirts and petticoats made of cotton linen or voile can be washed by hand or in a washing machine on a delicate cycle, at up to 30°C, with a mild detergent.

Before washing, do up the buttons, protect the embroidery and separate white items from brightly coloured ones. Do not use bleach or strong stain removers. Do not soak for long or use high spin speeds.

Dry naturally, after reshaping the garment. Do not tumble dry. Iron on the reverse side, avoiding embroidery, lace and decorative ribbons, or protecting them with a cotton cloth.

Embroidery, ribbons, tassels and other decorations

Do not rub, soak or iron decorative elements directly. After storage, tassels can be gently separated with your fingers and arranged.

For richly decorated bodices, skirts, jackets and complete costumes, we recommend professional cleaning of the whole item.

Leather shoes

After each use, remove dust and dry dirt with a soft brush or cloth. A small amount of care product suitable for the type and colour of leather can be used – ideally after testing it on an inconspicuous spot.

Do not wash or soak shoes or dry them on a radiator. Damp shoes should dry naturally at room temperature. Stuffing them with clean paper helps absorb moisture and keep their shape.

Storing costumes

Store costumes clean and completely dry, in a place protected from moisture, sunlight and moths.

Heavy skirts and woollen items are best stored folded so they do not stretch under their own weight. Bodices, jackets and shirts can be hung on wide or padded hangers.

For longer storage, use breathable fabric garment bags. We do not recommend airtight plastic bags or vacuum packing for delicate or stiffened items.