Distressing cotton/poly fabric

[texas_jack]

I have a Stafford

trench in a cotton/poly blend that serves it's purpose and I got for free but the fabric is so stiff I hate the way it looks. Is there anyway to make the fabric drape better? I'm open to any suggestions as it's no loss if I ruin it.

 

[JibranK]

Perhaps you should just wear it more? My father has a Burberry's trench from about thirty years ago made of a poly/cotton blend and it is quite pliable now.

 

[texas_jack]

yeah, I was hoping to make this happen this decade.

 

[speedster.8]

What does the care instructions say ... Id simply start by washing it, first time on wool cycle. And put it on a hanger to drip dry. Since its a poly mix it might be sensitive to heat. If you feel onetime has softened enough, otherwise redo. You may of course add a tumble dryer to the process, here again i would start of on a gentle cycle& no/low heat... If you really want to distress it (This is cruel, but...) I would maybe putt it inn a bag with some sand I think the one you get at a builders DIY, for concrete could be suitable. This is also an opportunity to vent some aggression. After this I would not wash it at one of my own machines

After any of these steps, or combination of steps you will of course have to get it pressed and rain proofed again. Speed

 

[texas_jack]

Interesting suggestion, thanks. It says dryclean. Should I go ahead and put it in the machine on cold? It has a viscose type lining.

 

[speedster.8]

When washing garments it is quite often the seams that are the unknown factor.
If there are removable linings etc id take them out to to reduce the amount of "unknowns".
An other factor you should look at is the way the garment is put together. check if the weaves all go in the same direction.
If the fabric is mounted in the same direction yo should get consistent shrinkage if there is any, if the fabric goes in all directions the garment will most likely twist and potentially deform dependent on the amount of shrinkage.
If you are unsure you can check with any removable part, if there is any.
Say a belt, usually they are made in the same direction, but you can measure pre and after wash. This may give you a gauge to judge potential shrinkage.

I would not wash with any heat, and if I could id reduce the RPM on the machine to 5-600RPM. If you cant reduce the RPM id drop any spinning cycle, as the friction of a spin cycle ads heat.

Best of luck

Speed