Thank you for purchasing from Vintage Kokoro! We like to think of each piece as a love letter from our Vintage Kokoro (center, heart, spirit) to yours ♥️
All of the Vintage Kokoro silk goods are made with authentic upcycled, vintage Japanese kimono silk that has been hand-selected, hand-picked (I buy kimono and process them down to usable panels), hand-washed & conditioned, custom designed, and sewn (partially by machine, partially by hand) by a 1-woman small business.
Essentially, my hands have actively been a part of every stage of creation, driven by a passion and love for preserving these amazing pieces so that they can live their next chapter with you!
While these pieces are meant to be used, they are made of vintage silk, so knowing a little about them will help you extend their lives and care for them. Silk is delicate by nature.
Use
These pieces are meant to be used for their intended purposes and in many cases (such as pouches) have been reinforced to help extend their lives, but they will remain a bit delicate given their vintage silk composition. I do not recommend putting anything abrasive or containing chemicals near them. I also do not recommend putting anything heavy in or on them.
Keep in mind, many of these silks were originally hand dyed (sometimes handpainted) and therefore should avoid moisture or they could bleed or fade quickly.
Care
Silk is a protein fiber and therefore should never have harsh or enzymatic detergent applied to them or it will break them down. I recommend simple soaps like Dr. Bronner’s (it’s what I use to process panels!) for light spot-cleaning by hand–never a washing machine. Items should always be air-dried flat–never in a dryer. You should avoid direct heat, such as an iron.