Caring for your silks
Please note that veils will likely arrive creased due to transit, for best results - I recommend giving them a pass with a steam iron or steamer once they arrive. For regular irons I reccomend using a protective heat mat (available in the shop under the accessories tab)
Alternatively let them hang to release some of the creases naturally - this is less effective than steam ironing but a good way to keep them from creasing further
Habotai Silk is a very fine fabric that requires some extra handling care to ensure its longevity. To make your silk fans last it is recommended to store them somewhere safe or inside a soft bag. I personally store mine unraveled and hanging to keep the silks from creasing. Eg. close staved inside a wardrobe with silk hanging down from the top shelf.
When transporting silks I recommend a soft fan bag (available in the shop under the accessories tab)
If you want to keep them crease free I personally carry them inside a suit protector using a hanger with clips.
Pay attention to your surroundings when dancing with them to avoid getting them hooked on a small splinter and tearing. If you do accidentally make a rip in your silks they may be repairable using a fabric tacky glue (PVA) . You can also use this glue if the silks have peeled away from the staves after prolonged use.
Avoid gripping any part of the silk that’s not attached to the staves as this will cause it to unpeel from the bamboo after prolonged use - only grip the wooden part.
Avoid getting your silks too wet as the dye might bleed from one colour to another. You can hand wash your silks by spot dabbing or dipping each colour separately into cold water and a mild silk detergent. Use fresh water for each colour. Make sure the colours don’t touch each other when drying. Do not dip the wooden staves, only the veil part to avoid the silk peeling off.
In high humidity climates its important to store your fans in a moisture proof area to avoid mould growing on the bamboo part of the fans. You can add dessicant pouches into your fan bag along with the fans.
Static may build up in your veils in dry conditions when they have been rubbing against one another, to remove the charge simply run the veils through your hands or against a bare body part like your thighs, this usually does the trick, alternatively you can sprits them with a specialised anti-static spray or use a steam iron.
Loose rivets can be tightened by using a hammer to gently knock the pin in the staves closer together, if you loose a rivet you might find one in your local hardware store or you can purchase them from my shop under the accessories tab.
If you find a bamboo stave has split you can use a PVA / tacky glue to fill in the crack and it will dry in 24 hours
For splintered staves use a nail file to smooth it down
Be aware that dyed silks will gradually fade when exposed to sunlight.
Depending on usage and how well you care for your silks you can expect Artisan Fans to last between 5-8 years, whilst the Studio Series 3-5 years.
Veil Wings
When you receive your wings I highly recommend practising with the poles alone to work out the best length to extend them to, it is very easy to tear the silk on the poles when they are too long and accidently scrape the ground or ceiling, for this reason I would make sure your poles do not touch the floor when your arm is fully extended and pointing down.