Looking After Your Rick Owens Pieces: Leather, Cotton, and Drape Fabrics
Whether it was a hard-saved leather biker, a heavyweight cotton hoodie grabbed during a Rick Owens sale, or a draped tunic dearer than your rent. Whatever it was, you’ve finally made the purchase. Regardless, you now have a garment that rewards a little knowledge and punishes carelessness. Rick Owens pieces aren’t delicate in the high-maintenance sense, yet they’re built from materials that act in particular ways, and handling them like everyday clothes is how people destroy expensive items. The good news is that proper care is mostly about restraint and a few simple habits. This guide runs through the three fabric groups you probably own. Get these basics right and your pieces will outlive most of the rest of your wardrobe.
Leather: The Big Buy That Needs the Least Fuss
Honestly, a Rick Owens leather jacket is among the simplest pieces in your wardrobe to care for, even though leather scares people. The brand leans on lamb and calf nappa, occasionally washed or blistered for that worn-in look, and these hides prefer to be largely left alone. Never put leather through the washing machine and never dry clean it casually; only a real leather specialist, not the corner dry cleaner, should ever tackle a stain. Wipe surface dust with a slightly damp cloth and let it air dry away from radiators, since direct heat cracks the grain permanently. Treat the leather once or twice annually with a neutral, brand-safe balm, spread thinly and buffed away after twenty minutes. Hang the jacket on a broad wooden or padded hanger so the shoulders hold their shape, never on a flimsy wire one. Treated this way, a $4,000 leather jacket easily lasts fifteen to twenty years and only looks better as it patinas.
Dealing with Rain and Scuffs
Though water is leather’s silent enemy, it stays manageable when you act sensibly. Caught in the rain, resist the urge to panic or hit the jacket with a hairdryer; just hang it at room temperature and let it dry slowly across a day or two. When it’s dry, a quick rick owens house coat of conditioner replaces the oils the water stripped and wards off stiffness. Minor scuffs on washed nappa frequently rub away using just your fingertip and the natural heat of your hand. Deeper scratches can sometimes be massaged less visible, though Rick Owens leather is meant to show character, so resist the urge to chase perfection. Salt stains from winter streets should be wiped promptly with a barely damp cloth before they set. The entire approach here is gentle and unhurried, which fits the lived-in look the brand celebrates anyway.
Cotton: Hoodies, Tees, and Those DRKSHDW Workhorses
Most owners wreck the cotton pieces, particularly DRKSHDW, through nothing more than overconfidence. That heavyweight jersey Rick Owens hoodie feels indestructible, but hot water and aggressive drying will shrink it, fade the dye, and wreck the carefully engineered drape. Always wash cotton garments inside out in cold water, ideally around 30 degrees Celsius, on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Skip the fabric softener entirely, because it coats the fibers and flattens the matte texture that gives these pieces their character. Never tumble dry; hang the garment to air dry, which protects both the dye and the elongated proportions the design depends on. Washing less often than you think you need to is genuinely better, since over-washing is the fastest route to a tired-looking hoodie. Stick to these rules and a $600 hoodie keeps its expensive look for years instead of months.
| Fabric | Wash Method | Drying | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather (nappa) | Spot clean only / specialist | Air dry, no heat | Condition 1–2x per year |
| Cotton jersey | Cold, inside out, gentle | Hang air dry | Every 4–6 wears |
| Drape / viscose blends | Hand wash or dry clean | Flat dry, reshape | As needed only |
| Waxed denim | Cold, rarely, inside out | Hang air dry | Every 8–10 wears |
Drape Fabrics: Where Patience Pays Off
The flowing tunics, asymmetric skirts, and pooled-hem tops of the drape category are the hardest of the three, since the fabric content varies and the cut is the whole point. Many drape garments use viscose, rayon, cupro, or silk blends that lose their shape if handled roughly, so always read the care label before doing anything. Uncertain? Hand wash in cold water with just a touch of delicate detergent, swishing gently rather than wringing or twisting. Remove the water by laying the piece flat between two towels, then dry it flat and reshape it with your hands while damp. Hanging a heavy wet drape piece stretches it unevenly and can permanently distort that carefully considered silhouette. For any piece that makes you nervous, a reputable dry cleaner versed in designer garments is money well spent. You paid for the drape, so safeguarding it is the entire task.
Storage and Day-to-Day Habits
Almost as much as cleaning matters how you store these clothes between wears. Give your pieces breathing room in the closet, because cramming them together creases the drape and crushes the structured shoulders on jackets. Reach for padded or wide wooden hangers for outerwear, and fold heavy knits and hoodies instead of hanging them up, as hanging gradually stretches the neckline. Keep everything out of direct sunlight, which fades the signature blacks and dusts into uneven grays surprisingly fast. Use a breathable cotton garment bag to guard leather and drape pieces from dust while avoiding the moisture plastic traps. Before putting things away for the season, wash them, because body oils and invisible stains lure moths and become permanent over months. These small habits cost nothing and add years of life to genuinely expensive clothing.
The Common Errors That Destroy Good Pieces
Knowing a short list of avoidable errors in advance spares you much heartache, since they cause most of the damage to Rick Owens garments. Top of the list is tossing a heavy hoodie into a hot load with everything else, shrinking the cotton and bleeding the careful dye in a single wash. Right after that comes hanging knits and jersey on thin hangers, pulling the shoulders into permanent bumps no wash will undo. People are also fond of “freshening up” leather with household wipes or alcohol-based cleaners, which strip away the natural oils and leave the hide dry and cracked within months. Pressing drape fabrics on high heat is another classic blunder, crushing texture and at times scorching delicate viscose blends past saving. Storing clean-looking but unwashed garments over a season invites moths to feast on invisible body oils. Lastly, hunting down every little scuff or fade undermines the whole idea of a brand that celebrates a worn, lived-in patina. Skip these six habits and you’ve effectively done eighty percent of the job.
When It’s Time to Call a Pro
Part of caring for luxury garments well is knowing your limits. Any structural fix, a ripped lining, a dying zipper, a burst seam on a leather jacket, calls for a specialist instead of a sewing kit and good intentions. Rick Owens stockists and the label’s own service channels will often advise on repairs, with the official site at rickowens.eu being the right first stop for queries about a specific piece. For stubborn stains on leather or drape fabrics, avoid the DIY fixes you read about online and seek out a cleaner who openly deals with designer garments. The price of a professional clean is negligible next to replacing a four-figure garment you ruined trying to save twenty dollars. Industry guides at outlets like Highsnobiety frequently cover designer garment care if you want to read further. In 2026, as resale values for the brand stay strong, well-kept pieces are also truly worth more should you ever sell. Regard the clothes as the long-term investments they truly are, and they’ll repay you for it.