How to Care for Your Varsity Forge Jacket
A varsity jacket built from melton wool, full-grain leather, and hand-guided chainstitch embroidery isn't disposable outerwear — it's a garment designed to age well. Trend pieces are made to be replaced. Ours are made to be worn for a decade or more, and every material we use rewards a small amount of upkeep with years of extra life. This page covers exactly how to clean, condition, and store each material we build with, so your jacket looks as sharp in ten winters as it does the day it arrives.
Varsity Forge's product-longevity philosophy in one sentence: A varsity jacket cared for correctly should outlast the trend it was bought for — that's the standard we build to, and the standard this guide exists to protect.
Wool Care (Melton Wool Jacket Bodies)
Melton wool is a densely woven, felted fabric — the tight weave is what gives it structure and warmth, but it also means the fibers can mat or shrink under heat and agitation. For everyday maintenance, spot-clean spills immediately with a damp microfiber cloth and cold water, working from the outside of the stain inward so you don't spread it. For surface dust or lint, a soft-bristle garment brush restores the nap without stressing the weave.
Never machine wash or tumble dry a wool varsity jacket. Water agitation breaks down the felted structure permanently, causing shrinkage and a stiff, boardy handfeel that can't be reversed. Skip standard dry cleaning too where possible — many dry cleaners use high-heat pressing that flattens the wool's nap and can scorch leather trim. If professional cleaning is unavoidable, use a cleaner experienced with varsity or letterman jackets specifically, and flag the leather sleeves so they're treated separately.
Leather Care (Leather Sleeves & Full-Leather Jackets)
Leather is skin, not plastic — it stays supple only as long as it retains natural oils, which sweat, sun, and time gradually strip out. Wipe the leather down with a dry or barely-damp cloth after wear to remove surface oils and dirt before they set in. Every 3–4 months (more often in dry climates), apply a small amount of leather conditioner with a soft cloth in circular motions, then buff off the excess. Conditioning replaces the oils lost to daily wear and is what prevents the two most common leather failures: cracking and stiffening.
Keep leather away from direct heat sources — radiators, car dashboards, direct sun for extended periods — since heat pulls moisture out of the hide faster than any other factor. Never saturate leather with water to "clean" it; over-wetting swells the fibers and dries into a hard, brittle finish. A little wear-in character on the elbows and cuffs is normal and part of how leather ages — that's patina, not damage.
Satin Care (Satin Varsity Line)
Satin's glossy finish comes from a tight, smooth weave that's more prone to snagging and creasing than wool or cotton twill. Hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent, or use a gentle/delicate machine cycle inside a mesh garment bag, and always air dry flat — heat from a dryer can dull the sheen and warp ribbing at the collar and cuffs. Iron only on the lowest setting with a press cloth between the iron and the fabric, since direct heat can leave a permanent shine mark on satin.
Store satin pieces on padded hangers rather than folded in a drawer; sharp folds set into creases that are difficult to steam out over time. Cotton-blend trims and linings can be treated with standard gentle-cycle care, but wash separately from wool or leather components to avoid dye transfer.
Cotton Care
Cotton varsity jacket bodies (usually cotton twill or fleece-back cotton) are more forgiving than wool or leather, but they still need the right routine to hold their shape and color. Machine wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, turned inside out to protect any embroidery or printed graphics, and always wash separately from wool or leather pieces to avoid dye transfer and snagging. Skip fabric softener — it coats cotton fibers and dulls the fabric's finish over repeated washes.
Air dry when possible, laid flat or on a broad hanger; if you use a dryer, low heat only, since high heat shrinks cotton and can warp ribbed collars and cuffs. Spot-treat stains as soon as they happen with cold water and a mild detergent — cotton holds stains far more stubbornly once they've set. For storage, hang on a sturdy hanger rather than folding for long periods, and keep the jacket out of direct sunlight, which fades cotton's color faster than most other fabrics we use.
Fleece Care
Fleece linings and fleece-bodied pieces hold their loft best on a cold, gentle machine cycle, turned inside out to protect any exterior trim. Air dry when possible; if you use a dryer, low heat only — high heat causes fleece fibers to flatten and pill, permanently reducing warmth and softness. Avoid fabric softener, which coats fleece fibers and strips their insulating loft over repeated washes.
Embroidery & Hardware Maintenance
Chainstitch embroidery is built from a single continuous thread locked in a looping stitch — durable, but vulnerable to snagging. If a loop catches, stop wearing the piece and have it professionally re-secured rather than pulling the thread, which can unravel an entire chenille letter in seconds. Clean embroidered areas by hand-spotting only; skip high-pressure cleaning methods that can loosen stitching at the edges.
Snap hardware and metal buttons should be wiped dry after exposure to moisture to prevent tarnish and corrosion at the base. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners on plated hardware, which can strip the finish and expose the base metal underneath.
General Storage & Seasonal Care
Store jackets on a sturdy, broad-shouldered hanger — wire hangers distort shoulder seams over a single season. Allow airflow around the garment rather than compressing it in a packed closet, which traps moisture and encourages mildew on both wool and leather. Before long-term seasonal storage, clean the jacket fully so no oils, sweat, or food residue sets in over months of storage, and keep it away from direct sunlight, which fades both wool dye and leather color over time. A breathable garment bag is preferable to plastic, which can trap humidity against the material.
Want the full material breakdown behind each piece? Visit our Materials guide to see exactly what goes into every jacket, browse the Mens Varsity Jacket and Womens Varsity Jackets collections, or review our Returns Policy if you have questions about a specific piece.
