It's happened to me several times that I buy something that fits perfectly, wash it once and it shrinks horribly. It's especially with t-shirts and sweaters. How do I know before buying if a garment is going to shrink? Are there brands that don't do this?
The material's composition is what determines whether something will shrink: natural fibers like cotton, wool and linen tend to shrink more than synthetics, especially if you use hot water. Before you buy, check the label for something that says "pre-shrunk" or "shrink-resistant," and always read the washing instructions carefully (a lot of times it'll say if there's a risk of shrinkage). Bigger brands like H&M, Uniqlo or Zara generally control this better, but honestly the safest bet is to wash in cold water and air dry, or just buy cotton-polyester blends that shrink less.
Log into answer.
