Materials & care
The fibres and finishes we use, what the wording on each page means, and how to look after them.
Every product page carries the fibre composition of that piece. This page explains what those words mean and how to keep each material looking as it did when it arrived.
The fibres we use
| Material | Where it appears | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton stretch poplin (97% cotton, 3% elastane) | Fitted shirts | Crisp, holds a collar, creases if it is left folded. Takes a press well. |
| Polyester jersey (92% polyester, 8% elastane) | Bodysuits | Heavier than it looks, opaque, recovers its shape. Does not crease. |
| Polyester twill | Pencil minis, tailored shorts | Dense, holds a crease and a seam line, no stretch. |
| Cotton-elastane twill (97% cotton, 3% elastane) | Some tailored shorts | Softer hand, a little give through the hip. |
| Polyurethane — faux leather (PU) | Skirts, bags, belt bands | A coated fabric, not animal leather. Matte to satin surface, wipes clean, no stretch. |
| Polyester mesh | Panel details | Fine, dimensionally stable, flat-locked at the seams. |
| Gold-tone and silver-tone plated alloy | Jewellery, buckles, chains, bag hardware | A base alloy with a plated surface finish. |
Why we write it that way
Two deliberate choices in our wording:
- Faux leather (PU) — we never write “leather” on its own for these pieces. The face is polyurethane over a textile backing. It is not animal leather and we do not want the word to imply otherwise.
- Gold-tone and silver-tone — these describe a colour and finish, not a metal content. None of our jewellery or hardware is gold or silver. We do not hold independent test certificates for the alloys used in these pieces, so we make no statement at all about their metal content or their suitability for sensitive skin. If that matters to you, please treat these as fashion pieces and buy accordingly.
Fibre percentages are given only where they are confirmed for that piece. Where a composition is stated without percentages, it is because the exact split is not confirmed and we will not estimate it.
How to look after each material
Cotton poplin shirts
Machine wash cool at 30°C on a normal cycle, inside out, with similar colours. Do not use bleach. Reshape the collar and cuffs while damp and hang to dry, or tumble on low and take it out slightly damp. Iron on a medium setting from the reverse; press the collar and cuffs from the underside first.
Polyester jersey bodysuits
Machine wash cool at 30°C, fasten the press studs first so they do not catch. Do not iron directly on the jersey — it will glaze. Hang to dry; it dries fast and does not need pressing.
Polyester and cotton twill skirts and shorts
Machine wash cool at 30°C on a gentle cycle, or dry clean. Close the zip and the hook before washing. Hang to dry from the waistband. Press the crease from the reverse with a cloth between the iron and the fabric.
Faux leather (PU)
Do not machine wash and do not dry clean. Wipe the surface with a soft damp cloth and let it air dry away from direct heat. Never put it on a radiator or in a tumble dryer — heat will lift the coating. Store skirts hanging, not folded, and store bags stuffed lightly with tissue so the sides keep their shape. A crease left folded in PU may not come out.
Plated alloy jewellery and hardware
Plating is a surface. It wears with friction, moisture, perfume, hairspray, hand cream and swimming pool water. To keep it looking new for as long as possible: put jewellery on last and take it off first, keep it dry, wipe it with a dry soft cloth after wearing, and store each piece separately rather than loose in a dish where pieces rub. Do not use silver polish, jewellery dip or an ultrasonic cleaner on plated pieces — they strip the finish. We make no durability claim about the plating: it is a surface finish and it will change with wear.
If something is faulty
A manufacturing fault — a seam that has not been closed, hardware that has come away, plating that has lifted on arrival — is not wear and tear. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have a short-term right to reject faulty goods within 30 days of receiving them. Email support@aivelo.shop with a photograph and we will deal with it. The full process is on the returns and refunds page.