Caring for Your Rick Owens Pieces: Leather, Cotton, and Drape Fabrics
You finally pulled the trigger on the jacket. Perhaps it was a leather biker you saved up for over months, a heavyweight cotton hoodie you grabbed in a Rick Owens sale, or a draped tunic that ran more than your monthly rent. 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 covers the three fabric families you’re most likely to have. 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
Leather intimidates people, yet a Rick Owens leather jacket is genuinely one of the simplest things in your closet to look after. Rick Owens tends toward lamb and calf nappa, at times washed or blistered for the lived-in effect, and such hides want minimal interference. 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. 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 https://rick-owens.us.com/ 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.
Dealing with Rain and Scuffs
Leather’s quiet enemy is water, but it is manageable if you act sensibly. Should you get caught in the rain, don’t panic and don’t blast the jacket with a hairdryer; simply hang it at room temperature and let it dry gradually over a day or two. After it dries, a thin application of conditioner brings back the oils the water removed and keeps it from stiffening. Light scuffs on washed nappa usually disappear with no more than a fingertip and your hand’s natural warmth. 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 whole philosophy here is gentle and slow, which suits the lived-in aesthetic the brand celebrates anyway.
Cotton: Hoodies, Tees, and the DRKSHDW Workhorses
The cotton pieces, especially anything from DRKSHDW, are where most owners do the most damage through simple 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 turn cotton garments inside out and wash them in cold water, ideally about 30 degrees Celsius, on a gentle cycle using 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 tumble dry; hang the garment to air dry, which protects both the dye and the elongated proportions the design depends on. Washing less frequently than you assume is necessary is honestly better, because over-washing is the quickest path to a worn-out hoodie. Follow these rules and a $600 hoodie stays looking expensive for years rather than 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 Is Rewarded
The draped pieces, meaning the flowing tunics, asymmetric skirts, and pooled-hem tops, are the most demanding of the three since the fabric content varies and the cut is the whole 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. 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. The drape is what you paid for, so protecting it is the whole job.
Storage and Day-to-Day Habits
How you store these clothes between wears matters almost as much as how you clean them. 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. Use a breathable cotton garment bag to guard leather and drape pieces from dust while avoiding the moisture plastic traps. When storing for the season, clean the garments first, since body oils and unseen stains draw moths and set permanently over the months. These small habits cost nothing and add years of life to genuinely expensive clothing.
The Common Errors That Destroy 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. Not far behind is putting knits and jersey on narrow hangers, which warps the shoulders into permanent lumps that no laundering fixes. 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. Lastly, hunting down every little scuff or fade undermines the whole idea 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. 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. By 2026, with the brand’s resale values remaining robust, well-maintained pieces are genuinely worth more too if you ever decide to sell. Treat the clothes as the long-term objects they are, and they will reward you for it.