Regalia Care Guide

It depends on the fabric. Most matte polyester gowns can be hand-washed in cold water using a gentle detergent. Machine washing is not recommended — agitation and heat can distort the shape, shrink the fabric, or damage embellishments. If your gown has velvet panels, metallic piping, or embroidery, skip washing entirely and spot-clean or steam instead.

1. Fill a basin with cold water and add a small amount of mild, colour-safe detergent.
2. Submerge the gown and gently agitate by hand for 1–2 minutes.
3. Rinse thoroughly with cold water until all detergent is removed.
4. Do not wring or twist — gently press excess water out against the basin.
5. Lay flat or hang immediately to dry.

Check your product label. Some regalia — particularly those with velvet trim, satin hoods, or specialty linings — are dry-clean only. For gowns labelled do not dry clean, steam cleaning is the safest alternative for odour removal and light freshening.

• Gowns and robes: Hang on a wide, padded hanger immediately after washing. Allow to air-dry away from direct sunlight to prevent colour fading.
• Stoles: Lay flat on a clean towel to preserve shape and prevent stretching.
• Hoods: Hang by the neckband and smooth the velvet trim gently while damp.
• Caps (mortarboards): Do not wet the cardboard brim. Spot-clean the fabric only; air-dry flat.

Never tumble-dry regalia. Heat causes shrinkage and can permanently damage pleats, piping, and shape.

Hang the gown in a steamy bathroom for 15-20 minutes to relax wrinkles without direct contact. Alternatively, use a handheld garment steamer on a low setting, keeping the nozzle 2-3 cm from the fabric. If ironing is necessary: use the lowest heat setting and always press through a damp pressing cloth. Never iron velvet trim directly — steam from the reverse side. For satin hoods and stoles, use a cool iron on the reverse (wrong) side only.

Yes — always wash dark-coloured regalia separately from light. Deep colours like navy, maroon, royal blue, forest green, and black may bleed, especially on first wash. Wash each colour separately in cold water, which significantly reduces colour transfer.

The mortarboard brim contains a rigid cardboard or plastic insert that must not be wetted. Spot-clean the fabric shell with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then air-dry flat away from heat sources. Store flat in a box to retain the brim shape. The tassel can be hand-washed separately and hung to dry.

Stoles are typically satin or poly-satin and can usually be gently hand-washed. Lay flat to dry and press on a cool setting from the reverse side if needed. Hoods vary — velvet-trimmed hoods should not be machine-washed. Spot-clean the velvet and hand-wash only the satin lining if separable. When in doubt, steam only.

Always defer to the product label when it is more restrictive than this guide. Labels reflect the specific fabric blend, construction, and finish used in your item. If your label says dry clean only, steam is your next safest option. If the label says do not wash and do not dry clean, use a garment steamer only.