Officine Paladino: Purveyor of Exquisite Fabrics
For us, quality is of the utmost importance. At CYC, we curate the fabric brands we carry, with leading brands such as Vitale Barberis Canonico and Holland and Sherry, adored by our customer base. A brand that is under the radar but deserving of the same accolades, is Officine Paladino. This exciting brand with its striking orange label, stands out amidst its peers and demands that its collection be seriously considered for your next suit. Find out how this Italian brand redefines tailoring for the modern gentleman.
Thoughtful Curation
When you visit a tailoring establishment, the variety of fabrics and choices can be generous. Too generous in fact, to a point where there are times that you are crippled by the variety of choices. Officine Paladino has carefully curated its collection according to the fabrics and their functionalities in each of its four books, for customers to have an easier time navigating. Within each, the book serves as an inspiration to inform and present their collection, done up in jackets and trousers. Seeing the garments made with the fabrics, you will have an easier time deciding on your next made-to-measure order.
Quality
Did we mention that the fabrics are all made within England and Italy? Where fabrics are concerned, these two countries offer the best quality one can find. Officine Paladino is committed to sourcing the finest quality and it works closely with Italian and English mills. The hand-feel and weight are well-balanced, especially for Singapore’s climate. Suits are often maligned in our weather; however, wool fabrics can be extremely lightweight and cooling to wear, as evident in some of Officine Paladino’s fabrics, which are as light as 260gsm. In their latest collection, An Eco-Evolution, you can even find high-twist fabrics, which are designed for breathability and airiness, as well as being crease-resistant.
Innovation
Innovation is at the forefront and the heart of Officine Paladino’s latest collection, An Eco-Evolution. With sustainability and ethical sourcing in mind, this treasure-box presents the world not just sensible offerings, but also quality fabrics. Carefully sourced from England and Italy, this latest fabric collection is sub-categorized into 3 different sections, each with their unique properties.
Refresh Your Trousers
Since wool trousers can be worn multiple times before washing, you
may feel the need to freshen up your wool garments to get rid of any
odour, or refresh your garments between washes — simply spritz your trousers with The Laundress' Wool & Cashmere Spray; it's safe, non-toxic, allergen-free, and naturally repels bugs and moths.
Hand-washing Your Wool Trousers
Handwashing is recommended for preserving the long-term vitality of your garment. Fill up a washbasin with cool water and add in mild detergent, we recommend The Laundress' Wool & Cashmere Shampoo — formulated to remove stains and dirt, while being incredibly gentle on your most treasured pieces.
Next, turn your trousers inside out, submerge them, and gently mix them up; ensuring all soap and water is evenly distributed. You may soak the items for up to 30mins. Then, run cool water till your trousers are no longer soapy. Instead of wringing them, press on the garment gently to release the water instead.
If there is colour in the water, don't worry! It's normal. The yarn dye is simply releasing colour and you will not notice any loss of colour after the wash is complete.
Note: Do not try this is if your garment is lined with a dry-clean-only lining.
Never Use a Dryer
Remember to never use the dryer to dry your wool items — the heat
from dryers can seriously damage your wool trousers and cause them to shrink.
Hang them out to air-dry naturally, and avoid placing them near heat sources. If there are creases on your trousers, steam them gently, or lay a piece of fabric over your trousers when pressing them.
Never let your iron press onto the garment directly as it may flatten the wool.
Dry-cleaning Your Wool Pants
If you have heavier stains on your pants or you wear them too
frequently, dry-cleaning would be a less time-consuming cleaning method than hand-washing.
Rest assured, you won't need to dry clean them after every wear —
most wool pants typically only need to be dry-cleaned after 5 wears;
though you may be able to re-wear some garments up to 20 times if they don’t get dirty. Remember, the chemicals in dry-cleaning can harm your clothes, so try refreshing your pants yourself with the methods above instead.
Once you get your pants home from the dry-cleaner, remove them from the bags they'll be stored in so your trousers can breathe. Keeping your wool garments in non-porous bags can yellow your garments, or weaken the fibres over time.
Storing Your Trousers
Instead of using thin plastic or metal hangers, hang your Merino wool pants from thicker wooden hangers; this will help to prevent getting marks on your trousers. To prevent creases, the best way to hang your pants is by using a tri-fold method.
You should think of your wool pants as a long-term investment. If you take care of your pants properly, you can expect to get many years of use from your garment. Just make sure to read the label on your pants for care instructions, or ask your tailor when you're unsure.
TLDR? Skip straight to the most frequently asked questions on how to care for your wool pants below!
Frequently asked questions
Why does wool shrink?
Wool contains an outer layer of protein scales. The combination of heat, moisture and mechanical movement may cause the wool fibre to shrink — the scales expand and catch on each other, which "locks" the fibres closer together; preventing the fibre from returning to original position. In other words, when you pop it in the dryer it
causes the fibre of the wool to shrink in a way that won't let it expand out again.
Is wool easy to care for?
Merino wool garments are easy to care for — they're stain-resistant, and you don’t need to wash them often. Which is better for the environment and better for you.
Can you wash "dry clean only" wool pants?
Naturally, when a label says Dry Clean Only, you will try to avoid washing them at home. Although some manufacturers will label a garment Dry Clean Only to be safe, you might actually be able to wash the garment without destroying it if you're careful with how you wash it. If you don't want to risk ruining it, send it to a professional dry cleaner.
How do you wash wool pants without dry cleaning?
- Test it out on an older wool garment first before risking your new buys.
- Always hand-wash garments individually.
- Use a clean sink or basin filled with cold water and a gentle detergent.
- Turn garment inside out.
- Submerge & evenly coat the garment with water & detergent.
- Run cool water till soap is removed.
- Drip dry. Do not wring the garment or throw it in the dryer.
What detergent should I wash wool with?
We recommend The Laundress' Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, or any detergent specially formulated to be used on wool.
How often should I wash my wool trousers?
Wool has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties so they don't need to be washed as frequently as synthetics.
Most wool pants typically only need to be washed after 5 wears; though you may be able to re-wear some up to 20 times if they don’t get dirty.
Simply brush dust and mild stains off lightly with a clothing brush, and air your wool trousers to help cleanse the fibre.
We hope you found this article helpful in guiding you to care for your wool garments. If you've conquered your fear of wool trousers and are ready to get your hands on them, book an appointment with us today. You won't regret it.