Material & Care

At Gauhar Helsinki, we want an item to feel familiar the moment you try it on, so that it becomes a wardrobe favourite in high rotation. Each fiber brings its own personality to a garment, and understanding them helps you choose the right piece for your personal lifestyle. We curate our fabrics every season to offer the perfect balance of longevity, everyday comfort, and versatile Scandi chic simplicity. 

To ensure our pieces stand the test of time, we prioritize sustainable high-quality and considered materials (Oeko-Tex standard 100, GOTS and BCI). By choosing quality materials and caring for them thoughtfully, you enjoy garments that bring you joy season after season.

General care instructions for longevity:

To ensure your Gauhar Helsinki pieces "wash and wear" beautifully for years, we generally recommend these simple steps:

  1. Wash Less, Air More: A hand steamer is also a convenient helper when you want to refresh your garments

  2. Cool & Mild: For most items (cotton, viscose, lyocell), wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle with similar colors. Choose detergent according to the material and spot clean stains (with a Stain Soap) before washing ASAP. 

  3. Skip the Dryer: Air-drying is better for the fibers and the environment. Reshape your garments while damp and let them dry naturally.

  4. Gentle Ironing: If needed, iron your favourites with steam or use a cotton cloth to protect delicate materials from the heat, such as viscose & silk.

To help you make the most of your wardrobe, we’ve broken down the unique characteristics of our chosen materials:

 

Hopfällbart innehåll

Wool

At Gauhar Helsinki, we aim to create knitwear that not only feels luxurious but remains a staple in your wardrobe for years. We take immense pride in our roots. We are thrilled to share that our merino, mohair & alpaca knitwear collection is proudly designed & produced in Finland.

- Merino Wool is nature’s most sophisticated performance fiber. We love to incorporate the durable 100% milano knit.

- Alpaca Wool is one of the world’s most luxurious fibers. It is extraordinarily warm yet lightweight and incredibly soft against the skin. With its unique structural characteristics, alpaca benefits from a thoughtful blend of wool and synthetics. 

- Mohair wool is one of the world’s most exclusive natural fibers. Known as the "diamond fiber," it adds a beautiful texture and a sophisticated sheen to our knitwear. With its unique structural characteristics, mohair benefits from a thoughtful blend of wool and synthetics.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Air out: Wool is a self-cleaning fiber. Fresh air is often enough to remove odors and refresh the garment between wears.
  • Steam: Use a hand steamer to gently remove wrinkles and kill bacteria without the stress of a full wash.
  • Washing: Wash only when necessary. Use a wool program & delicate spin (30°C) or hand wash with a mild detergent specifically designed for wool.
  • Drying: Reshape while damp and dry flat on a towel to prevent stretching. Never tumble dry.
  • Storage: Always store your knits folded rather than on a hanger to avoid deforming the shoulders.

Cashmere

Cashmere is our most luxurious fiber—featherlight and still significantly warmer than standard wool. Gauhar Helsinki cashmere is designed to be cherished for years, becoming even softer with proper care. It offers unmatched softness, a sophisticated drape and a touch of everyday indulgence.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Pilling: Natural friction may cause pilling initially. Gently remove lint with a Kent brush or a cashmere comb to keep the surface smooth.
  • Rest: Give your cashmere a rest day between wearings to allow the fibers to recover their natural shape.
  • Air out: Wool is a self-cleaning fiber. Fresh air is often enough to remove odors and refresh the garment between wears.
  • Steam: Use a hand steamer to gently remove wrinkles and kill bacteria without the stress of a full wash.
  • Washing: Wash only when necessary. Use a wool program & low spin (20 or max 30°C) or hand wash with a mild detergent specifically designed for wool.
  • Drying: Reshape while damp and dry flat on a towel to prevent stretching. Never tumble dry.
  • Storage: Always store your cashmere knits folded rather than on a hanger to avoid deforming the shoulders.

Cotton

Cotton is highly breathable, absorbent, and hypoallergenic, therefore an ideal choice for everyday use. Adding elastane ensures the garment retains its shape and moves with you.

Whether it’s a classic poplin shirt, a textured seersucker dress or a soft jersey tee, our cotton pieces are designed to feel light, fresh, and effortlessly polished. 

At Gauhar Helsinki, we take immense pride in our roots. We are thrilled to share that our 100% organic cotton knitwear collection is proudly designed & also produced in Finland.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Steam: Rely on a hand steamer when you want to refresh your cotton garments and get rid of wrinkles between washings.
  • Wash: Wash cotton items at 30-40°C on a gentle cycle with similar colors. Choose detergent according to the material and spot clean stains (with the Stain Soap) before washing ASAP. 
  • Avoid softeners, they weaken the cotton fiber and destroy the elasticity.
  • Use laundry vinegar to naturally soften the fibers without residue
  • Air Dry: Air-drying is better for the fibers and the environment. Reshape your garments while damp and let them dry naturally.
  • Ironing: If needed, iron your favourites with steam

Denim

Denim's ability to be both practical and stylish has made it a "forever classic" that remains a beloved staple in Gauhar Helsinki’s selection.

Our denim combines classic durability with modern comfort. We select high-quality denim that wear beautifully over time while maintaining its structure. An elastic waistband and a stretchy denim fabric ensures a comfortable fit all day long. 

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Wash less: To preserve color and fit, wash your denim as seldom as possible. Spot clean small stains with the Stain Soap.
  • Cold Wash: When washing is needed, turn the garment inside out and wash at 30°C to prevent fading.
  • Skip Softeners: Fabric softeners break down the fibers and destroy the elasticity of the denim.
  • Air Dry: Avoid the dryer at all costs. Hang your denim to dry naturally to prevent shrinkage and fiber damage.

Linen

Linen is one of the world’s oldest and most sustainable fibers, cherished for its organic texture and exceptional durability. We love linen for its natural ability to keep you cool in the heat and warm in the cold, making it a true year-round staple. Its breathable, moisture-wicking properties and beautiful, lived-in feel only improve with every wash and wear.  

At Gauhar Helsinki, we take immense pride in our roots. We are thrilled to share that our 100% linen knitwear collection is proudly designed & produced in Finland.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Washing: Wash linen at 30-40°C on a gentle cycle with similar colors. Use a mild detergent and avoid overloading the machine to prevent permanent creasing.
  • Skip the Dryer: High heat can make linen brittle and cause shrinkage. Air-drying is always best for the fibers and the environment.
  • Ironing & Steaming: For a crisper look, iron while the fabric is still slightly damp using a high steam setting. A hand steamer is also excellent for refreshing linen between wears.
  • Stain Care: Treat spills immediately. Use the Stain Soap for spot cleaning before washing to keep your linen pieces looking fresh.

Natural & plant-based

We love viscose, modal and lyocell for their beautiful, fluid drape and silky-smooth touch. Plant-based fibers bring a sophisticated sheen and a light, breathable feel to our collections. 

These fibers naturally contract (3%) when wet and may feel stiff after washing. Instantly restore the fabric’s original softness, size, and silky drape by giving your garment some extra care:

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Gentle Washing: Wash at 30°C on a delicate cycle.
  • Mild Detergent: Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach. 
  • Skip fabric softeners: softeners can weigh down the fiber and affect its natural breathability.
  • Air Dry: Never tumble dry. Reshape the garment while damp and lay it flat or hang it to dry naturally away from direct sunlight.
  • Ironing & Steaming: For a crisper look, iron while the fabric is still slightly damp using a high steam setting. A hand steamer is also excellent for refreshing linen between wears.

Synthetic

At Gauhar Helsinki, our material choices are always guided by a balance of aesthetics, comfort, and longevity. While we prioritize natural fibers, we selectively incorporate high-quality (recycled) synthetics and blends to enhance the performance and lifespan of our garments. We believe that a truly sustainable wardrobe consists of pieces that maintain their beauty and shape through years of active use.

REASONS WE CHOOSE BLENDS:

- Shape Retention & Stretch: Adding a small percentage of fibers like elastane or polyester ensures that your favorite trousers or denim retain their tailored fit and move with you throughout the day without sagging or losing their silhouette.

- Durability & Strength: Synthetics can significantly strengthen delicate natural fibers. A blend often makes a woolgarment more resistant to pilling, abrasion, and tearing, ensuring it remains a staple in your closet for much longer.

- Ease of Care: Blending fibers like viscose with high-quality synthetics can reduce wrinkling and make the garment easier to iron or steam. This "wash-and-wear" quality is essential for the busy, modern lifestyle.

- Lustre & Drape: Certain synthetic blends allow us to achieve a specific silky sheen or a heavy, elegant drape that might be difficult to reach with pure natural fibers alone, providing that signature Gauhar Helsinki "polished" look.

- Practicality: For outerwear and everyday essentials, synthetic properties offer better resistance to wind and moisture (our swimwear), making them practical choices for the unpredictable Northern climate

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Gentle Washing: Wash at 30°C on a delicate cycle.
  • Mild Detergent: Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach.
  • Skip fabric softeners: Softeners can weigh down the fiber and affect its natural breathability.
  • Air Dry: Never tumble dry. Reshape the garment while damp and hang it to dry naturally away from direct sunlight.
  • Ironing & Steaming: For a crisper look, iron the fabric using a high steam setting. A hand steamer is also excellent for refreshing synthetic blends between wears.