How to keep graphic prints alive for years — the care guide

Your graphic is only as good as your wash routine

The best graphic technique in the world — discharge ink, embroidery, sublimation — will still deteriorate if you wash it wrong. Here are the rules that keep your pieces looking new for years.

The 7 rules

1. Wash cold, always

Hot water is the number one killer of graphic prints. It loosens ink bonds, causes shrinkage and fades colour. Set your machine to cold (30°C or below).

2. Turn inside out

Before every wash, turn the garment inside out. This protects the graphic from friction against other clothes and the drum of the machine.

3. Never bleach

Bleach destroys both colour and fibre. If you need to treat a stain, use a gentle spot treatment directly on the stain — never soak the entire garment.

4. Hang dry

Tumble drying applies heat and friction — exactly what prints do not need. Hang dry in shade (direct sunlight fades colour). This single habit will double the lifespan of your graphic tees.

5. Iron on reverse

If you must iron, always iron on the reverse side. Never place an iron directly on a print — even a "cold" iron setting can damage embroidery and screen prints.

6. Wash with similar colours

Colour bleed is real, especially in the first 2–3 washes. Wash darks with darks, lights with lights.

7. Skip the fabric softener

Fabric softener coats fibres with a chemical film that can interfere with print adhesion. The premium fabrics THE SUNYA uses (Supima cotton, brushed-back fleece) are already soft — they do not need it.

Print-specific notes

• Discharge ink (BLAZE) — most durable. Colour is fused into the fibre. Standard cold wash is sufficient.
• Embroidery (MOKSHA, GULABI) — thread-based. Avoid snagging on zippers. Wash in a garment bag if possible.
• Screen print (TRINETRA, AXIS) — most vulnerable to heat. Cold wash + hang dry is non-negotiable.

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