How to Wash Stone Island (and Why the Badge Comes Off First)
Quick answer: take the badge off first, turn the garment inside out and wash it cold (30 degrees or lower) on a gentle cycle, separately or with similar colours. Skip the tumble dryer and dry it on a hanger or flat, out of direct sun. Always check the care label inside, because coated and treated fabrics need their own approach.
A Stone Island jacket can last decades. We sell pieces from the 90s that still look sharp, and we also see three year old jackets that are faded, shrunk or stained because they went into a hot wash with the badge still on. The difference is almost always the washing.
This guide covers the basics that apply to every piece, then the specific care per fabric and garment type.
Step one: remove the badge
This is Stone Island's own advice. The badge is attached with two buttons and should come off before every wash, because its colours can bleed into the garment. Unbutton it, put it somewhere you will find it again and button it back on once the piece is completely dry.
Want to know more about the badge itself? Read our Stone Island badge guide.
The basics for every Stone Island piece
- Read the care label. It is the only instruction that is specific to your piece. Some fabrics can only be hand washed or dry cleaned.
- Turn it inside out. This protects the surface, the dye and any prints or embroidery.
- Wash cold. 30 degrees or lower, gentle or wool cycle, low spin.
- Wash separately or with similar colours, especially the first few washes. Garment dyed pieces can release some colour.
- Use a mild detergent and skip fabric softener, which can affect coatings and technical finishes.
- Do not soak the garment for a long time.
- No tumble dryer unless the label allows it. Heat is the main cause of shrinking and damaged coatings.
- Dry in the shade. On a wide hanger for jackets and overshirts, flat for knitwear.
Care per fabric
| Fabric or type | How to handle it |
|---|---|
| Garment dyed cotton (sweatshirts, hoodies, overshirts) | Inside out, 30 degrees, similar colours. Expect a slow, natural fade over the years, which is part of the look |
| Nylon Metal, Crinkle Reps, Micro Reps | Cold gentle wash or spot clean, no softener, hang dry. Never iron directly on the fabric |
| Coated fabrics (Raso Gommato, Mussola Gommata) | Spot clean where possible, check the label before any machine wash. Heat and harsh detergent damage the coating |
| Soft Shell-R and membrane jackets | Cold wash with a technical detergent if the label allows it, no softener, hang dry |
| Down jackets and bodywarmers | Follow the label strictly. If machine washing is allowed, use a down detergent and dry slowly, shaking out the filling |
| Knitwear | Hand wash or wool cycle, cold. Dry flat, never on a hanger, to keep the shape |
| Reflective and special treatments | Usually dry clean or specialist cleaning only. Check the label |
Curious what these fabrics actually are? Our Stone Island fabrics guide explains each one.
Care between washes
The best way to keep a piece in shape is to wash it less. Air out a jacket after wearing it, brush off dry dirt, and treat small stains with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap. Store jackets on a wide hanger, knitwear folded, and keep everything away from direct sunlight, which fades garment dyed colours faster than any washing machine.
Does the same go for C.P. Company?
Largely, yes. C.P. Company is also known for garment dyeing, so the same rules apply: cold, inside out, similar colours, no dryer. For goggle and lens jackets, make sure the lenses do not rub against anything hard in the drum. Close all zips and wash the jacket inside out, or spot clean around the lenses. Read more about these pieces in the C.P. Company goggle jacket guide.
FAQ
Can you put Stone Island in the washing machine?
Most sweatshirts, hoodies, tees and many jackets, yes, on a cold and gentle cycle with the badge removed. Coated, reflective and some down pieces need hand washing, spot cleaning or a dry cleaner. The care label decides.
Do I have to take the badge off before washing?
Yes. Stone Island advises removing it because the colours can transfer onto the garment.
Why is my Stone Island fading?
Garment dyed pieces fade gradually by nature. Hot washes, sunlight and tumble drying speed it up a lot.
Can I tumble dry Stone Island?
Better not, unless the label explicitly says so. Heat causes shrinking and can damage coatings.
Looking for a new piece to take care of? Shop all our Stone Island and C.P. Company.
Checked by hand at Gorilla Island
We are a Stone Island and C.P. Company specialist from Amsterdam. Every piece we sell is checked by hand: ART number, labels, badge, fabric and construction. This guide is based on that daily work.
