How to Care for Your Rick Owens Pieces: Leather, Cotton, and Drape Fabrics
Maybe it was a leather biker you saved for months to afford, a heavyweight cotton hoodie you snagged during a Rick Owens sale, or a draped tunic that cost more than your monthly rent. Either way, you finally bought the jacket. Whatever it was, you now own a garment that rewards a little knowledge and punishes neglect. Rick Owens pieces are not delicate in the fussy sense, but they are made from materials that behave in specific ways, and treating them like ordinary clothing is how people ruin expensive things. The good news: proper care comes down largely to restraint and a handful of simple habits. This guide runs through the three fabric groups you probably own. Master these basics and your pieces will survive longer than almost everything else you own.
Leather: The Investment That Asks the Least of You
People are scared of leather, but a Rick Owens leather jacket is honestly among the easiest pieces in your wardrobe to maintain. The label favors lamb and calf nappa, now and then washed or blistered for that broken-in look, and these leathers are happiest left mostly undisturbed. Never machine wash leather and never dry clean it on a whim; a true leather specialist, not a corner dry cleaner, is the only person who should ever treat a stain. Clear surface dust using a faintly damp cloth and allow it to air dry clear of radiators, as direct heat cracks the grain for good. Feed the leather once or twice a year using a neutral, brand-safe balm, applied in a thin layer and buffed off 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. Cared for like this, a $4,000 leather jacket comfortably lasts fifteen to twenty years and only improves as it patinas.
Handling 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 rickowensfashion.us.com 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 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 occasionally be worked into being less visible, but Rick Owens leather is designed to show character, so fight the urge to chase perfection. Salt marks from winter streets ought to be wiped off quickly with a barely damp cloth before they set in. The whole philosophy here is gentle and slow, which suits the lived-in aesthetic the brand celebrates anyway.
Cotton: Hoodies, Tees, and the DRKSHDW Workhorses
Through simple overconfidence, most owners do the most damage to the cotton pieces, especially anything from DRKSHDW. 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. Wash cotton pieces inside out in cold water every time, ideally near 30 degrees Celsius, on a delicate cycle with a mild detergent. Leave out the fabric softener completely, since it coats the fibers and dulls the matte texture that gives these pieces their character. Never use the tumble dryer; hang the garment to air dry, safeguarding both the color and the elongated proportions the design relies on. Laundering it less often than you’d expect is truly the smarter move, as over-washing is the fastest way 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 draped pieces, those flowing tunics, asymmetric skirts, and pooled-hem tops, are the trickiest of the three because the fabric content varies and the cut is the entire point. Lots of drape garments rely on viscose, rayon, cupro, or silk blends that lose their form if handled carelessly, so read the care label before you do anything. If you’re unsure, hand wash in cold water with a small amount of delicate detergent, swishing softly instead of wringing or twisting. Squeeze the water out by sandwiching the garment flat between two towels, then dry it flat and reshape it by hand while it’s still damp. Hanging up a heavy, wet drape piece stretches it unevenly and may permanently warp that carefully considered silhouette. Whenever you’re anxious about a piece, a trusted dry cleaner experienced with designer clothing is worth every penny. The drape is the reason you bought it, so preserving it is the whole point.
Everyday Habits and How You Store Things
Almost as much as cleaning matters how you store these clothes between wears. Leave your pieces some breathing space in the closet, since packing them tightly creases the drape and flattens 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. Store everything away from direct sunlight, which bleaches the signature blacks and dusts into patchy grays surprisingly quickly. A breathable cotton garment bag shields leather and drape pieces from dust without sealing in moisture like plastic does. For seasonal storage, make sure garments are clean first, because body oils and invisible stains attract moths and set permanently over months. These minor habits cost you nothing yet add years to genuinely pricey clothing.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Good Pieces
The bulk of damage to Rick Owens garments stems from a short list of avoidable mistakes, and learning them ahead of time spares a lot of grief. The biggest culprit is throwing a heavyweight hoodie into a hot wash with everything else, which shrinks the cotton and runs the careful dye in one cycle. Right after that comes hanging knits and jersey on thin hangers, pulling the shoulders into permanent bumps no wash will undo. People also love to “freshen up” leather with household wipes or alcohol-based cleaners, which strip the natural oils and leave the hide dry and cracked within months. Ironing drape fabrics on high heat is another classic disaster, flattening texture and sometimes scorching delicate viscose blends beyond repair. Stowing seemingly clean yet unwashed garments through a season hands moths a meal of invisible body oils. Finally, chasing every tiny scuff or fade defeats the point of a brand that celebrates a worn, lived-in patina. Avoid these six habits and you have already done eighty percent of the work.
When It’s Time to Call a Pro
Caring well for luxury garments means knowing your limits. Whether it’s a torn lining, a failing zipper, or a split seam on a leather jacket, any structural repair is a job for a specialist, not a sewing kit and good intentions. Rick Owens retailers and the brand’s own service channels can frequently guide you on repairs, and the official site at rickowens.eu is the proper starting point for questions about a particular garment. For deep stains on leather or drape fabrics, resist home remedies you read online and consult a cleaner who explicitly handles designer pieces. What a professional clean costs is nothing against replacing a four-figure garment you wrecked 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. Treat these garments as the long-term pieces they are, and they will reward you in return.