Glossary · Material
Shrinkage
Shrinkage is the reduction of a textile’s length or width after washing.
Why it matters
Cotton naturally tends to shrink, especially in the first washes. Pre-treatments like sanforising or garment washing limit this behaviour and ensure the labelled size still holds after the first wash.
Causes: fiber tension from the knitting process plus heat and motion in washer and dryer.
Practical care: wash cold or lukewarm, only tumble-dry if explicitly recommended, inside out, no fabric-softener overdose.
Common misconception: “shrinkage means better quality later.” Usually uncontrolled shrinkage is a sign of missing pre-treatment.