How to Care for Zimmermann, and How to Spot an Authentic Piece

Zimmermann pieces are built from silk, linen, fine wool and a great deal of applied trim. That is what makes them worth owning, and it is also what makes them unforgiving of casual laundering. This guide covers how to care for the clothes properly, and how to satisfy yourself that a piece is genuine before you buy it.

Care by fabric

Silk

Most Zimmermann silk carries a dry clean only instruction, frequently specifying hydrocarbon solvent. Take the label at its word. Silk that has been washed at home loses its hand feel permanently, and no amount of pressing brings it back. Between cleans, air the piece overnight before returning it to the wardrobe.

Linen and cotton

These tolerate more, but they crease by design. Steam rather than press, and accept that a linen dress is meant to look lived in by the afternoon. Store on a wide hanger so the shoulder does not take a point.

Wool and merino knits

Fold, never hang. A merino sweater on a hanger grows through the shoulder within a season. Keep knits flat in a drawer, and use a fabric shaver on pilling rather than pulling it away by hand.

Lace, beading and embroidery

The trims are the vulnerable part. Remove detachable belts and ties before cleaning. Ask your cleaner to cover applied trim, and keep an iron away from beading entirely. Light steam from a distance is the safest refresh.

Storage that actually preserves a piece

Padded hangers for structured dresses and coats. Flat storage for knits. Keep everything out of direct sunlight, because Zimmermann’s prints and dyes are rich and they will fade in a bright wardrobe. Cotton garment bags let the fabric breathe. Plastic ones trap moisture and should be used for transport only.

Before storing seasonally, make sure the piece is clean. Body oils and perfume oxidise over months and set into a permanent mark that no cleaner will lift.

How to check a Zimmermann piece is genuine

Counterfeit Zimmermann circulates widely, particularly of the signature print dresses. A few checks tell you most of what you need to know.

• The print placement. Genuine pieces match the print across seams and panels. Copies almost never bother, because matching wastes fabric. Look at the side seam and the centre back.
• The finishing inside. Turn the garment out. French seams, bound edges and neat overlocking are standard. Loose threads and raw edges are not.
• The hardware and labelling. Zimmermann zips run smoothly and carry consistent branding. Care labels are printed cleanly, with legible fibre content and a style code.
• The fabric weight. Zimmermann silk has body. A copy usually feels thin and slippery in the hand, and it hangs closer to the leg than it should.
• The price. A current season dress at a fraction of retail from an unfamiliar seller is the clearest signal of all.

Every Zimmermann piece sold by Luxury Handbags is authenticated before dispatch, so these checks are for the wider resale market rather than for anything you buy from us.

A note on the resale market

Zimmermann holds value reasonably well, which is exactly why the counterfeit trade exists around it. If you are buying secondhand, ask for photographs of the interior labels, the seam matching and the zip, taken in daylight. A genuine seller will provide them without hesitation.

Where to browse

See the full Zimmermann collection at Luxury Shoes . Our guide to where Zimmermann is made covers provenance in more depth, and why Zimmermann costs what it does explains what the price is buying.

Frequently asked questions

Can you machine wash Zimmermann?

No. Most pieces specify dry clean only, and the applied trims will not survive a machine cycle. Follow the care label on the individual garment.

How do you get creases out of a Zimmermann silk dress?

Steam it from a short distance rather than pressing it. Keep the steam away from any beading and embroidery, and let the piece hang until it is fully dry.

How can I tell if a Zimmermann dress is real?

Check that the print matches across the seams, look at the interior finishing, feel the weight of the fabric, and read the care label for a clean print and a style code. Suspiciously low pricing is the strongest warning sign.

Does Zimmermann hold its value?

Signature print dresses and swim hold value better than seasonal separates. Condition and completeness of trims make most of the difference at resale.