How to Wash and Care for Upcycled Kitenge and Denim Clothes

Every upcycled garment has already lived one life. A denim jacket that crossed oceans in a mitumba bale, a kitenge offcut that once belonged to someone's dress. When those pieces are remade into something new, a little care keeps them looking sharp for the next chapter.

This guide covers simple, practical habits that work in an ordinary Kenyan home, with or without a washing machine.

Why remade pieces need a little thought

A remade garment often combines fabrics that behave differently. Cotton kitenge, sturdy denim, soft shirting and kanga cotton may all sit in one piece. Each shrinks, fades and creases in its own way, so the gentlest method for the most delicate fabric is usually the right one for the whole garment.

The good news is that mitumba fabrics have usually been washed many times already. Most of the shrinking has happened. What you are protecting now is colour, stitching and shape.

Before the first wash

• Read any care note attached to the piece and follow it.
• Test bright prints. Dampen a hidden corner of a kitenge panel and press it with a white cloth. If colour transfers, wash that piece alone in cold water for the first few times.
• Close zips and buttons so they do not snag the softer fabrics around them.
• Turn the garment inside out to protect prints and patchwork seams.

Washing by hand or machine

Hand washing is the kindest choice for most remade pieces, and it suits a basin and a bar of soap perfectly well.

1. Use cool or lukewarm water, never hot.
2. Choose a mild detergent and dissolve it fully before adding the garment.
3. Soak briefly, then press and squeeze the fabric rather than scrubbing hard against itself.
4. Rinse until the water runs clear.
5. Squeeze out water gently. Avoid wringing tightly, which can twist seams where two fabrics meet.

If you use a machine, pick a gentle or delicate cycle, a cold setting and a low spin. A mesh laundry bag adds protection for pieces with appliqué or raw-edge detailing.

Drying without fading

The Nairobi sun is generous, and it will happily bleach a beautiful kitenge if you let it. Dry remade clothes inside out and in the shade, or on a line in a breezy corridor. Denim and heavier pieces dry best hung by the hem or laid flat so the shoulders do not stretch.

Avoid tumble dryers unless the care note says otherwise. High heat is hard on mixed fabrics and visible stitching.

Ironing and storage

• Iron inside out, on a medium setting, while the fabric is still slightly damp.
• Use a pressing cloth over kitenge prints and any embellishment.
• Hang jackets and dresses on wide hangers to keep their cut.
• Fold knitwear and streetwear rather than hanging, so it does not drop out of shape.
• Keep garments away from damp walls during the long rains, and give the wardrobe some air.

Small repairs, long life

The whole point of upcycling is that clothes deserve more than one life. If a button loosens or a seam starts to open, mend it early. A local fundi can handle most small repairs quickly, and a stitch in time keeps a one-of-one piece wearable for years. Wear and mending become part of the garment's story.

Wear it, care for it, keep it

Looked after well, a remade piece only grows more personal with time. If you are unsure how to care for something you bought from us, just get in touch and we will happily advise.

When you are ready for your next piece, explore the collection or read about delivery across Kenya.