How to Care 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. In any case, you now own a piece that gives back when you understand it and suffers when you ignore it. 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 walks through the three fabric families you are most likely to own. Nail these fundamentals and your pieces will outlast most of the rest of your closet.

Leather: The Big Buy That Needs the Least Fuss

A Rick Owens leather jacket is honestly one of the easiest things in your closet to maintain, even though leather scares people. The brand leans on lamb and calf nappa, occasionally washed or blistered for that worn-in look, and these hides prefer to be largely left alone. Never put leather through the washing machine and never dry clean it casually; only a real leather specialist, not the corner dry cleaner, should ever tackle a stain. Remove surface dust with a barely damp cloth and let it air dry well away from radiators, because direct heat permanently cracks the grain. Feed the leather once or twice a year using a neutral, brand-safe balm, applied in a thin layer and rick owens on sale 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.

Coping with Rain and Scuffs

Water is the quiet enemy of leather, yet it’s controllable so long as you act sensibly. Caught in the rain, resist the urge to 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. 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 marks from winter streets ought to be wiped off quickly with a barely damp cloth before they set in. The guiding idea here is gentle and slow, perfectly matching the worn-in aesthetic the brand prizes anyway.

Cotton: The DRKSHDW Workhorses, Hoodies, and Tees

It’s the cotton pieces, above all anything from DRKSHDW, where most owners inflict the most damage out of simple overconfidence. That heavy jersey Rick Owens hoodie feels bulletproof, yet hot water and harsh drying will shrink it, fade the color, and destroy 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. Avoid fabric softener altogether, as it films the fibers and flattens the matte finish that lends 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. Follow these rules and a $600 hoodie stays looking expensive for years rather than months.

Drape Fabrics: Where Patience Pays Off

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. 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 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. You paid for the drape, so safeguarding it is the entire task.

Storage and Everyday Habits

Nearly as crucial as cleaning is the way you store these garments between wears. Give your pieces breathing room in the closet, because cramming them together creases the drape and crushes the structured shoulders on jackets. Choose padded or broad wooden hangers for outerwear, and fold heavy knits and hoodies rather than hanging them, because hanging stretches the neckline over time. Keep it all clear of direct sun, which fades the signature blacks and dusts into uneven grays faster than you’d think. A breathable cotton garment bag shields leather and drape pieces from dust without sealing in moisture like plastic does. When storing for the season, clean the garments first, since body oils and unseen stains draw moths and set permanently over the months. Such little habits are free and tack years of life onto truly expensive clothes.

Common Mistakes That Ruin Good Pieces

Most damage to Rick Owens garments comes from a short list of avoidable errors, and knowing them in advance saves a lot of heartache. 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

Recognizing your limits is part of looking after luxury garments properly. 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 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 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. 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 these garments as the long-term pieces they are, and they will reward you in return.