A cashmere coat or a wool coat is not simply a garment — it is a companion for the season, a piece that carries through the years when it is properly cared for. Here is how to preserve its beauty, season after season.
1. Daily airing, the gesture that changes everything
Cashmere and wool are naturally self-cleaning fibers. Simply airing the coat in fresh air after each wear is enough to remove light odors and accumulated moisture. Hang your coat on a wide hanger and let it breathe for a few hours — away from any direct source of heat.
This simple gesture considerably reduces how often it needs washing, preserving the natural suppleness of the fiber. Cashmere washed too often loses its drape; cashmere that is aired keeps it for years.
2. Brushing, a workshop secret
A soft-bristled brush, used in the direction of the nap, removes the dust and micro-particles that dull the surface of the fabric. In our workshops, we brush every piece before it is placed on its hanger. For a wool coat in worsted wool, a horsehair brush is ideal; for cashmere, choose a silk-bristle brush.
Brushing also lifts flattened fibers and revives the natural luster of the material. One minute a week is enough.
3. Pilling: no need for alarm, never pull
Cashmere that pills is not poor-quality cashmere — it is cashmere that lives. Natural friction (sleeves against the body, a bag carried on the shoulder) releases the shortest fibers, which form these small balls on the surface.
The golden rule: never pull them off. Use a cashmere comb or an electric fabric shaver, always on the surface, without pressing. After a few cycles of brushing and gentle removal, the cashmere stabilizes and pills less and less.
4. Washing: gentleness and patience
A cashmere or wool coat should be washed only two to three times per season — no more. For the best results:
Hand washing (recommended)
Fill a basin with lukewarm water — never hot, as heat felts wool. Add a small amount of mild soap, preferably a pH-neutral soap. Immerse the coat and press it gently without wringing or rubbing. Leave it to soak for fifteen minutes.
Rinse in clean water, always lukewarm, until the soap is gone. Never wring: press the water out between your hands, then roll the coat in a terry towel to absorb the excess.
Drying
Flat, on a level surface covered with a clean cloth, away from direct sunlight and any source of heat. Never hang wet cashmere — it would stretch out of shape under its own weight. Drying can take 24 to 48 hours. It is long, and it is necessary.
5. Seasonal storage
When the warmer season returns, store your coat with the same attention you give it in winter. A few simple rules:
- Clean it before storing it — body residues attract moths.
- Use a cotton garment bag, never plastic. Cashmere needs to breathe, even at rest.
- Slip in a lavender sachet or a cedar block — a natural moth repellent, free of harsh chemicals.
- Store it flat or on a padded hanger, in a dry, well-ventilated place.
Avoid mothballs, which are too harsh for natural fibers. Lavender and cedar do the same job, gently.
6. When to entrust your coat to a professional
For stubborn stains or a deep clean, a quality dry cleaner specializing in fine fibers is the best option. Always specify that the garment is cashmere or virgin wool — the solvents and temperatures are not the same as for conventional textiles.
A professional cleaning once a year, at the end of the season, is quite sufficient. In between, airing, brushing and occasional hand washing keep the piece in perfect condition.
The art of making it last
Caring for a cashmere or wool coat is a way of honoring the work of the workshop that made it. In our workshops, every piece is the result of exacting standards passed down since 1918 — a heritage worth preserving, season after season.
Discover our coat collection and our exceptional jackets, made in the finest tradition of the Coulange workshops.
For any question about caring for your Coulange piece, our team is at your disposal.