Caring for Your Rick Owens Pieces: Leather, Cotton, and Drape Fabrics
You finally pulled the trigger on the jacket. It might have been a leather biker you spent months saving for, a heavy cotton hoodie you scored during a Rick Owens sale, or a draped tunic pricier than a month’s rent. No matter the piece, you now own a garment that repays a bit of know-how and penalizes 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 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
Leather intimidates people, yet a Rick Owens leather jacket is genuinely one of the simplest things in your closet to look after. 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 men rick owens shoes 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. Store the jacket on a wide wooden or padded hanger so the shoulders keep their shape, never on a thin 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
Water is leather’s silent foe, though it’s manageable if you respond sensibly. If you get caught in rain, do not panic and do not blast the jacket with a hairdryer; just hang it at room temperature and let it dry slowly over a day or two. Once dry, a light pass of conditioner restores any oils the water pulled out and prevents stiffness. Small scuffs on washed nappa often buff out with nothing more than your fingertip and the natural warmth 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. Wipe salt stains from winter pavements away promptly using 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 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: The Payoff Is in the Patience
Because the fabric content varies and the cut is the entire point, the draped pieces, those flowing tunics, asymmetric skirts, and pooled-hem tops, are the trickiest of the three. 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. Press the water out by laying the garment flat between two towels, then dry it flat and reshape it by hand while 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 what you paid for, so protecting it is the whole job.
Everyday Habits and How You Store Things
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. 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. Before putting things away for the season, wash them, because body oils and invisible stains lure moths and become permanent over months. These minor habits cost you nothing yet add years to genuinely pricey clothing.
The Common Errors That Destroy Good Pieces
Most harm done to Rick Owens garments traces to a handful of avoidable errors, and knowing them beforehand saves plenty of heartache. The number one offender is tossing a heavyweight hoodie into a hot wash with everything else, which shrinks the cotton and bleeds the careful dye in a single 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 to Bring in a Professional
Part of caring for luxury garments well is knowing your limits. Any structural repair, a torn lining, a failing zipper, a split seam on a leather jacket, belongs with a specialist rather than 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. 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. Regard the clothes as the long-term investments they truly are, and they’ll repay you for it.