Care Guide


How to look after your JulieMay bras, briefs and nightwear so they stay soft, keep their shape and last well.

JulieMay garments are made from organic Pima cotton and mulberry silk with cotton-covered elastics. We chose these fibers for your skin, not for toughness. They are soft and breathable, and they ask for a little more care in return. Follow the steps below and you will get the most wear from every piece.

What our garments are made of

  • Body fabric: organic Pima cotton blended with mulberry silk
  • Cup lining and brief gusset: 100% mulberry silk, so only silk touches your skin
  • Straps and underbands: elastane core wrapped in cotton
  • Dyes: azo-free

Silk is a protein fiber, like hair. Heat, biological detergents and rough handling all weaken it. Everything below is written to protect the silk and the fine seams that hold it in place.

Care at a glance

Washing

  • Bras and briefs: hand wash, or delicate cycle in a mesh bag with hooks fastened
  • Silk camis and nightwear: hand wash only
  • Cold water or 30°C (86°F) maximum, lowest spin if using a machine
  • Wash with similar colors
  • Hand washing: dissolve detergent first, soak 5 to 10 minutes, squeeze gently, rinse in cold water until clear
  • Never twist, wring or rub the fabric against itself

Detergent

  • Use a gentle liquid detergent that is non-bio (enzyme-free), fragrance-free and free of optical brighteners. Detergents made for silk, wool, delicates or sensitive skin usually fit
  • Avoid: biological (enzyme) detergents, fabric softener, bleach, stain removers, laundry pods, dish soap
  • Stains: rinse in cold water straight away and dab with a little of your usual detergent. No hot water on silk

Drying

  • Press out water between two towels, then reshape the cups by hand
  • Lay flat to dry, or hang a bra by the center front, never by the straps
  • Dry indoors or in the shade, away from radiators and heaters
  • Never tumble dry. Heat breaks down the elastic and shrinks the silk lining

Ironing

  • Bras and briefs: do not iron
  • Silk camis and nightwear: usually not needed if dried flat. If you must, use the silk setting (around 110 to 150°C / 230 to 300°F), inside out, slightly damp, with a cotton cloth between the iron and the silk. No direct steam

How long should a JulieMay bra last?

Natural fibers behave differently from synthetics. Cotton and silk give you breathability and comfort; polyester and nylon give you stretch recovery and a longer shelf life. We have chosen the first, so the honest answer is that a JulieMay bra has a shorter active life than a typical high-street bra, and it should be judged on how it feels against your skin rather than how many years it sits in the drawer.

With the care above, expect a JulieMay bra to keep its shape and support for around 6 to 12 months of regular wear.

Time to replace a bra when:

  • the band is loose on the tightest hook
  • the straps no longer stay adjusted
  • the cups have lost their shape
  • the underwire has shifted or pokes through
  • a seam has opened

Checking your order when it arrives

Please check every item before you wear or wash it: seams, wires, hooks, straps and lining. We can only accept returns on unworn, unwashed items with tags attached, within 180 days of purchase. If you find a fault on arrival, contact us before wearing it and we will put it right. Full details are in our Return & Exchange Policy.

Why care matters

Organic cotton and silk cost more to grow and to sew than synthetic fabric, and they ask a little more of you at home. In return you get a garment that breathes, that does not trap heat or sweat against sensitive skin, and that sheds no plastic microfibers in the wash. Looking after it properly means fewer replacements and less waste.

Questions?

Email cs@juliemay.co.uk. Not sure whether your bra needs replacing or re-fitting? Visit our Bra Fitting Room.