Wash Cold, Inside Out
Turn printed or embroidered pieces inside out before washing — it's the single easiest thing you can do to protect a graphic. Cold water is worth the habit too: hot water is what actually fades color and breaks down print adhesion over repeated washes, far more than the detergent itself.
Wash heavyweight fleece with similar-weight items, not mixed in with jeans or anything with zippers and hardware, which can snag or abrade the fabric surface over a few cycles.
Skip the Dryer When You Can
Heat is the main enemy of both fit and print. A hot dryer is what shrinks heavyweight cotton fleece over time and is the fastest way to crack a printed graphic — the fabric and the print expand and contract at different rates under heat, and repeated cycles are what cause that cracked, worn-out look on an otherwise good piece.
Air drying flat takes longer but adds real years to a heavyweight piece. If you do use a dryer, low heat and pulling it out slightly damp to air-finish is a solid middle ground.
Don't Over-Wash It
Fleece doesn't need washing after every wear the way a workout shirt does — over-washing is one of the most common ways people accidentally shorten a hoodie's life. Spot-clean a small mark instead of running a full wash cycle for it, and you'll get meaningfully more wear out of the piece.
Storing It Between Wears
Fold heavyweight pieces rather than hanging them for long stretches — fleece has enough weight that hanging can stretch the shoulders out of shape over months. A drawer or shelf keeps the structure intact far better than a hanger does.
Take care of it and a heavyweight piece from The Film Photographer of San Francisco should easily outlast a season. Questions about a specific piece — text (415) 573-FILM and we'll walk you through it.