At JAG, we need to know our clothes can adapt and move to fit your life.
We place a huge amount of value in proper quality testing and clothing care – after all, a product that stands the test of time is going to be the last one to end up in landfill.
All of our products are quality tested to rigorous international standards by Intertek, SGS and Bureau Veritas. This means our clothes get put through the wear and tear of everyday life before they even hit the rack. Here’s everything you need to know about our processes.
We test the fibre composition of our garments as sometimes, percentages of blends can vary. Through our testing, we can guarantee that what is listed in the product description is exactly what you’re getting.
Our chemical tests ensure nothing nasty ends up in your clothing. We reject any material with high or low pH levels, banned AZO dyes or formaldehyde. Keeping toxicity out of your clothes is a number one priority for us.
'IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IT DID ON THE RACK?'
Hate the idea of your garment looking a mess after just a few washes? So do we. That’s where dimensional stability testing comes in. This test examines how the structure of a fabric changes with wash and wear, and is one of our most critical tests to ensure garment longevity. We conduct vigorous machine wash, hand wash or dry-cleaning tests depending on the fabrication and end use.
We want our favourite colours and prints to stay bold and bright – but between work, play and laundering, there can be a lot of elements working against us. That’s why our colourfastness tests are developed to reflect daily life. We check for cross-staining and colour loss in wash cycles using steel balls to emulate real-world abrasion, and we test to make sure dyes don’t transfer onto other clothes or surfaces.
'WILL IT STAND UP TO WEAR AND TEAR?'
Yes! That’s where our performance testing comes in. We test to make sure the fabric doesn’t rip at the seams, that a stretch fabric will recover its shape by 90–95%, and that it can withstand abrasion and rubbing. Those last tests are done using a machine called a Martindale that rubs and abrades the fabric – up to 10,000 times for our high standards!
Yes – caring for your clothes can be a form of climate activism. There are many ways to extend the life of your clothes, but these are our care essentials. Hot tip - always read the garment care label first before trying the below.
WASH LESS, PLAY MORE
Most of the time, your clothes don’t need the washing machine or tumble dryer to be freshened up. For small stains, try spot cleaning with a gentle stain remover and a clean rag first. If that’s not enough, try a hand wash with delicate detergent. And on tumble drying – we get it, we’re all a bit time poor. But regular tumble drying can really wear out your garments, so opt for air drying whenever possible. Both these methods save on water and energy use, but read on for washing specifics for each of our fabric types.
Cotton can be hand or machine washed in cold, warm, or hot water with similar colours. We recommend using cold water to prevent shrinkage and reduce the risk of dyes fading. Cotton can be warm tumble-dried, but we recommend line-drying in the shade as it’s gentler on the environment. Cotton can be ironed using a hot setting with steam. For best ironing results, iron whilst garment is still damp.
LINEN, HEMP & RAMIE
Linen can be hand or machine washed in cold or warm water (up to 40 °C) with similar colours. Use gentle detergents. Avoid using bleach or optical whiteners and don’t wring your linen out. Linen can be warm or cool tumble-dried, but we recommend line-drying in the shade as it’s gentler on the environment. You can iron linen with a warm to hot setting, but we love its natural creases so we often don’t bother!
Care should be taken when washing wool to prevent felting and shrinking. Never hot or warm wash wool - use cold or cool water only. It is best hand washed, but some of our garments can be gentle machine washed. Only use a delicate detergent suitable for wool or protein fibres. Never rub, wring, or tumble dry wool garments. Place washed garment on a dry towel and roll to remove excess water then gently reshape and lay flat.
LEATHER & SUEDE
Leather doesn’t require any special products to be kept clean. Use a clean rag dipped in a solution of soap and water to gently wipe the surface. Don’t use chemicals or conditioners, do not iron and make sure to keep your leather products away from extreme heat or damp. Suede must be kept away from water and only treated with a suede cleaning product. Both suede and leather products should be drycleaned by a leather specialist dry cleaner every couple of years.
Man-made cellulosics such as Tencel, lyocell or viscose can be hand or machine washed in cold water with a gentle laundry detergent, however some must be dry-cleaned only - please check the care label. These garments should be line dried and not tumble dried as they have more movement in the fibres and weave and can be prone to shrinkage. They can be ironed on the coolest setting, usually best ironed whilst still damp.
POLYESTER AND OTHER SYNTHETICS
Polyester can be hand or machine washed in cold or warm water (up to 40 °C) with similar colours. We recommend a cold wash as it requires less energy. Most detergents are suitable for polyester, but we always advise using a gentle option. Polyester dries quickly on the line, so we recommend only tumble drying when you need to on the coolest setting.
