Care Instructions

Hand-Crocheted Pieces

Washing: Hand wash in cold water with a gentle detergent. Do not machine wash.

Drying: Lay flat to dry on a clean towel. Do not tumble dry or hang dry, as this may stretch the crochet.

Storage: Fold and store flat in a cool, dry place. Avoid hanging for extended periods.

Ironing: Do not iron directly. If needed, use a steamer on low heat from a distance.

Hand-Beaded Bags

Cleaning: Gently wipe with a soft, damp cloth. Do not submerge in water.

Storage: Store in the included dust bag when not in use. Avoid stacking heavy items on top.

Beadwork: Handle with care. While our beading is done with meticulous attention, avoid pulling or snagging on rough surfaces.

General Care

Each Chaïa piece is handmade and unique. With proper care, these pieces are designed to last for years. Treat them as the artisan-crafted garments they are.

Questions about caring for your piece? Email us at chaya@chaiaofficial.com.

Why Care Matters for Handmade Pieces

A Chaïa piece is not a mass-produced garment. Each one represents anywhere from 12 to 80 hours of skilled hand labor — a crocheter pulling thousands of stitches in sequence, a beader placing tens of thousands of beads one at a time on a wooden frame. Treating these pieces like fast fashion shortens their life dramatically. Treated correctly, they last for years and develop the kind of soft, lived-in character that machine-made clothing never achieves.

Detailed Crochet Care

Hand washing technique. Fill a clean basin with cold water and add a small amount of pH-neutral, gentle detergent (wool wash or baby shampoo work well). Submerge the garment, gently press water through the fibers — do not wring, twist, or scrub. Soak no longer than 10 minutes. Rinse with clean cold water until no soap remains.

Drying technique. Gently press out excess water by rolling the garment in a clean dry towel. Reshape on a second flat dry towel, smoothing the crochet so it returns to its natural dimensions. Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade the metallic thread.

Storage. Always fold — never hang. Crochet is gravity-sensitive and will stretch over time on a hanger. Keep folded pieces in a breathable cotton bag or drawer with cedar to deter moths.

What to avoid. Chlorine pools, salt water for prolonged exposure, sunscreens with avobenzone (which can yellow light fabrics), perfume sprayed directly onto the garment, and rough surfaces like Velcro or unfinished wood.

Detailed Bead and Embroidery Care

Surface cleaning. Use a barely-damp soft cloth (microfiber works well). Press, do not rub. For deeper cleaning of lining only, spot-treat with a cotton swab and mild soap.

Storage. Always store in the included dust bag, lying flat. Stuff the interior lightly with acid-free tissue to maintain the bag's shape. Keep away from heat sources — beads and the threads holding them are heat-sensitive.

If a bead loosens. Do not pull. Email us a photo and we will guide you on local repair or send replacement beads where possible. Adda embroidery is repairable when handled gently.

Travel Tips

For travel, fold crochet pieces and place them in the center of your suitcase between softer items. Bags should travel in their dust bags inside a hard-sided suitcase to protect the beadwork from impact.

Long-Term Preservation

Treated well, your Chaïa pieces are heirloom quality. Many of our customers tell us their crochet sets look better in year three than year one — softened by careful washing, broken in by wear, but still structurally intact. That is the promise of slow fashion in practice.