Caring for Your Tights
Our tights passed the key test, the ring test, and whatever that was with the filing cabinet corner. That doesn't mean they're invincible. It means they're well-made. A little care is all they ask for in return.
Washing
Cold wash, 30°C max
Heat breaks down nylon fibres permanently. There's no recovering from a hot wash, the fabric loses elasticity and the snag-resistance weakens. Cold water works just as well for hosiery.
Use a mesh laundry bag
Without one, tights get pulled against zips, buttons, and other fabrics in the drum. A mesh bag takes ten seconds to use and meaningfully extends how long each pair lasts.
No fabric softener
Softener coats elastane fibres and reduces stretch recovery over time. It makes them feel softer for one wash and less functional for every wash after that. Skip it.
No tumble dryer
The heat and tumbling action degrades nylon faster than almost anything else. A pair that would last two years with air drying might last two months in a dryer.
Wearing
Most damage to tights happens in the first thirty seconds of wearing them. Rings, sharp nails, and rushing are responsible for the majority of snags, not desk chairs, not the commute.
Check your hands first
Remove rings or any jewellery with prongs or sharp edges. Trim any nails that have a sharp edge or snag. This single step prevents the majority of first-wear snags.
Gather down to the toe, don't pull from the top
Bunch the entire leg of the tight down to the toe opening. Slide your foot in at the toe and ease the fabric up gradually. Pulling from the waistband puts uneven tension on the knit and creates weak points at the gusset.
One leg fully settled before starting the second
Ease the first leg fully into position before beginning the second. Rushing and applying both legs simultaneously causes uneven stretch, and most gusset damage happens this way.
Smooth upward with flat palms, not pinching fingers
Use the flat of your palm to smooth the fabric up your leg in small sections. Never pinch the fabric between your fingers, that concentrated pressure is exactly what creates a snag. Small movements, not one big pull.