A Complete Guide To Taking Care Of Your Heirloom Saris and Lehengas

We all have a special place in our heart for clothes that have been handed down in our families for generations. You know the ones we are talking about. It could be that bespoke Banarasi sari that belonged to your great- grandmother or the heirloom zari-work dupatta that invites a plethora of compliments and queries each time you wear it. Such items of clothing are invaluable to us, not only because of the emotional and sentimental attachment they hold but also due to the exacting heritage of the workmanship they are crafted with.

Those of us who are lucky enough to have inherited such precious items of clothing want to do our utmost in taking care of them. Be it storage, cleaning, repair or even repurposing them, we want to fulfil our sartorial responsibility and do justice to our heirloom saris and lehengas.

We spoke to designers and revivalists Ritu Kumar, Anju Modi and Manish Chhabra of Delhi Vintage Co. who weighed in with their expert tips on the preservation, usage and restoration of such pieces.

 How should you store your heirloom clothing items?

“Store them in a muslin cloth or cotton bags after folding them inside out,” says designer Ritu Kumar. “Avoid polyester bags and let the sari/lehenga breathe. This way, the yarns don’t darken from the oxidation caused by reacting with the air. This also ensures that the clothing does not get snagged and remains protected from moths.”

Anju Modi recommends placing Cedar Scented Hangers and blocks in closets and drawers while storing your luxe attire. She also suggests that we should store the pieces in mulmul wraps and acid- free tissues with splatter of neem leaves to keep moths at bay. We should ensure that none of the fabric touches itself to avoid any sort of abrasion due to rubbing of the fabric and surface ornamentation.

“If they are heavily embroidered, use a net lining to avoid the threadwork from getting tangled', adds Ritu Kumar. Avoid using metal hangers to prevent stains. Ideally, they should be stored flat in a cool, dark place to prevent discolouring. Use dry neem leaves as they have anti-pest, anti-fungal properties.”

How do we fix fading and discolouration?

 “We love curating these exquisite ensembles as much as you love wearing them,” says designer Anju Modi', and to ensure their endurance, we are sharing our key tricks to preserve them over generations.” Ms Modi recommends that to prevent to discolouration, you must always store them in mulmul and give an extra layer of satin wrap over it, so as to protect the garment from direct sunlight.” Do remember to turn off your closet lights,” she adds. According to her, the act of air-drying the pieces before storage is a must. “ Turn the garments over every half an hour to make sure everything dries evenly and doesn’t gather mildew, “she says.

 Manish Chhabra suggests that over-dyeing using organic colours, tea or coffee can fix discolouration and fading. Zari can also be re-polished in certain cases, depending on its state of wear and tear.

“Refold your clothing every few months to prevent fading and discolouration along the fold lines,” says Ritu Kumar. “ The most common mistake that people make is keeping naphthalene balls or insect repellants directly in contact with the clothing, which tends to discolour the zari work. Avoid washing too frequently to prevent a loss of sheen. While applying perfume, do not spray directly or let it come in contact with the fabric”

What is the correct way to clean these items?

According to Manish Chhabra, the best way to clean such items is with water, by using a damp cloth. “Saris should be protected from any harsh chemicals and perfumes', he adds.

“Dry-clean them after a few uses', Says Ritu Kumar.'In case you get a stain on the sari, wash it with cold water. If the stain is of oil, use talcum powder to soak up the oil, and then wash with a mild soap and warm water. Always use a muslin cloth over the sari while ironing.”

How can you fix any tears and rent?

According to our experts, one should take the help of professional darners to fix or repair any damage to these heirloom pieces... Tears can be fixed by putting a patch under the torn part. It all depends on the condition of the sari. If it is beyond repair, the border and/or pallu can be patched onto another fabric.

What can you do if the item is beyond repair?

“As we are all looking forward to having a sustainable environment around, please do reuse your beautiful attires once they are worn out,” emphasises Anju Modi. “Use them to beautify the spaces around you... create rugs and timeless hand decor pieces.”

Ritu Kumar suggests that we can re-stitch such pieces into different ensembles such as anarkalis, kurta-sets, pant, dresses and jackets. We can also convert them into a gown or a corset bodice to add a contemporary, more modern twist. Bags and clutches are also a great idea. “Fabric that has become soft and fragile, and can’t be worn anymore can be used after lining with muslin as cushion covers or bags,” she explains. “ Or, you can simply cut out the good part of the sari and use it as a dupatta.”

“If it’s beyond repair, then it can be used as a wall hanging or used as covers for other saris', sums up Manish Chabbra.

So there you have it, a complete guide to taking care of your heirloom saris, lehengas and items of clothing. Follow these steps, and you can look forward to handing these precious items over to the next generations of your family, and help preserve them for posterity.

Images courtesy: Delhi Vintage Co, Ritu Kumar and Anju Modi's Instagram.