New 100% linen pants: should I wash, dry clean, or do nothing before having them altered?

[HPT704]

New 100% linen Ralph Lauren pants - instructions say dry clean only. I did look through some old SF threads and there was mixed advice about whether it was safe to hand wash, machine wash, or dry clean in terms of shinkage. Right now the waist fits perfect, but the length is about 1-2 inches too long. So I wouldn't mind some shrinkage in the length, but I'm worried about the waist. Should I do some form of washing to try to pre-shrink before alteration, or do nothing?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I think you’re ok having them dry cleaned first and then have them altered.

I’ve washed linen on gentle in cold water and line dried. Seems to be fine.

 

[dieworkwear]

Pants from Lauren are likely OK to be washed in the laundry machine.

Higher end pants -- whether made from wool, cotton, linen, or other materials -- should be dry cleaned. If they are intended to project a cleaner, more tailored look, a wet wash can cause the interlining and side seams to shrink at different rates. Think about how the trousers were made and the intended styling. A telltale sign is whether the side seams are made with single or double-needle stitching.