Tops That Keep Their Shape – Wash After Wash

Short answer: Tops lose their shape when the fibres wear and the stretch is washed out of them. Choose tops in bamboo viscose and wash them gently at 30 degrees without a tumble dryer, and they keep their fit, colour and softness far longer than cheap tops in cotton and polyester.

Why tops lose their shape

Shape usually disappears for three reasons: washing that is too hot, tumble drying, and low quality fibres that cannot find their way back to the starting point. Every time the top meets high heat, the stretch weakens a little, until the neckline droops and the fabric bags over the stomach.

Heat is the biggest culprit

Hot water and hot air make the fibres shrink and the elastane turn brittle. A top washed at 60 degrees and tumbled has usually lost its shape after twenty washes. The same top lasts for years if it is washed at 30 degrees and hung up to dry instead.

Why bamboo keeps its shape

Bamboo viscose has long, smooth fibres that keep their spring, and the fabric is often knitted with a little elastane that pulls the top back into shape after wearing. The material also pills less than cotton. Have a look at the bamboo tops for women knitted for daily use.

The elastane in the fabric

Most tops contain five to ten per cent elastane. The elastane gives the stretch, and it is also the first thing to go. It tolerates neither high heat nor fabric softener nor chlorine, which is why treatment rather than price decides how long a top keeps its shape.

How to wash the tops properly

Wash at 30 degrees on a gentle programme with a liquid detergent without bleach. Leave out fabric softener, which lays a film in the fibres. Turn the top inside out and wash it with other light garments, so zips and hooks in the same drum do not pull at it.

Drying and hanging

The tumble dryer is the fastest route to a top without shape. Hang it up to dry instead, but not on a narrow hanger, which pulls the shoulders into two points. Lay it flat on a drying rack, or use a hanger with broad shoulders until it is almost dry.

The long sleeved models

Long sleeved tops wear most at the elbow and wrist, where the fabric bends all day. Turn them inside out before washing so the surface does not rub against the drum. The range is under long sleeved bamboo T-shirts for women, and the same washing advice applies.

Storage between the seasons

Fold the tops instead of hanging them when they are going to rest for several months. A hanger pulls at the shoulders and neckline, and the weight of the fabric does the work over time. Store them dry and dark, so the colour does not fade in sunlight through a window. See also bamboo T-shirt vs. cotton T-shirt and the guide to washing and caring for bamboo clothing.