Note: I post these alerts because they do get readers who are searching for problems with the same company. Unfortunately, of course, people tend to search only once they’ve had a problem. The one recourse we consumers sometimes have is to warn others.
I recently bought a fitted Tencel blouse from the company Tianello. The tag said “pre-shrunk.” It also said “machine wash cold, tumble dry low, steam iron.”
In short, on its first (and only) washing the blouse shrank to such a degree that I can no longer wear it. I emailed the manufacturer, Tianello; they said that the fabric had tightened up and suggested I steam iron it. That helped, but not enough; the blouse is ruined.
And Tianello will not refund me my purchase price. They suggest I contact the retailer; the retailer is in Orgeon.
In short, Tianello clothes shrink to an unacceptable degree, and the company does NOT stand by its products.
UPDATE: after several emails back and forth, insisting that the blouse couldn’t have shrunk (so I gained so much weight overnight, literally, that the blouse no longer buttons?), Tianello agreed to take back the blouse. (One email said that I shouldn’t be contacting them — after all, it said, if I bought a Maytag washer at Sears that didn’t work, would I contact Maytag? Damn right I would — the Maytag would have been under warranty.)
In the meantime, however, while Tianello was being snide, I contacted the retailer and sent it back to them.
My experience also. The retailer in Colorado wanted me to send the clothes to the manufacturer when I called her to follow up after washing. When i insisted, she became very adamant and unpleasant. I finally relented and kept the clothes. The texture is no longer silky, or ultra-suede like with a smooth texture, but coarse. The seams shrank unevenly , making a tight drawn look. I am very disappointed as the clothes were drop dead gorgeous jewel tones. I now wear them for knock-around clothes instead of elegant casual. The retailer says I am the only one to report this problem – I don’t think it is my washer, which is about two years old, or my dryer, same. I think it is the fabric. Too bad. Thansk for the info.
I have had the opposite problem with Tianello Stretch Jeans. In 2005 I bought a pair of XS jeans which fit great in the store. I found however that after a few hours wear that they totally bagged and sagged. I emailed Tianello and told them (politely)that I felt a refund was in order and that i didn’t want to trouble the merchant because it certainly wasn’t her fault. They suggested that I should have bought XXS (ridiculous because the XS fit fine and I am not an XXS person). Initially I thought they would at least send me a replacement pair but then they stopped answering my emails. I love the two shirts that I have of theirs but their customer service is awful!
I have over 2o tianello blouses. They come out of the wash looking wonderful. I have never had one shrink even an inch. Im large busted so Id know if any of them shrunk. Nope Never Ever…
I have sold several thousand tianello tencel garments and never had any of them returned for shrinkage problems. If you iron the garment it always goes back the the original size. The fabric contracts when you wash and dry it just like cotton does but after ironing it is perfect.
Try using an iron on it and you should be happy with the fit.
Steve,
Although I have not sold thousands of tianello garments, it is one of my major lines and I have never had a return for shrinkage problems in the 12 years I’ve been selling it. I personally wear the product as well as my husband and we wash and dry them all the time. I am amazed that the retailer did not take the item back. That is simply bad business.
Becky
I did try ironing it — nope. A complete loss. And I loved that blouse!
I just wanted to share that I had the same problem of shrinking and got a refund from retailer…BUT I loved the Tianello shirts so two years later tried again and found the answer—you can cold water wash on gentle, but DO NOT PUT IN DRYER!!!—Line Dry Only, then iron and they are great!!!…They should put THESE directions on the labels!!!
I just wanted to share that I had the same problem of shrinking and got a refund from retailer…BUT I loved the Tianello shirts so two years later tried again and found the answer—you can cold water wash on gentle, but DO NOT PUT IN DRYER!!!—Line Dry Only, then iron and they are great!!!…They should put THESE directions on the labels!!! My shirts are now maybe about 4 years old so I hope the newer ones would still work this way.
I LOVE Tianello blouses. I’m an xl and have never had problems with shrinkage. I never put them in the dryer because I don’t want the beautiful colors to fade. They dry fast-usually overnight -and then I iron them. Very well made they last and last.
Have one pair of tianello pants, very happy with them, have not shrunk, but I generally don’t put them in the dryer. never need ironing….
I found this discussion while researching Tianello care instructions. I have had both experiences with laundering their shirts — one shrank badly and no longer fit properly and the other one laundered without a hitch — go figure!!! I just purchased a pair of their pants and I have my fingers crossed because when the fabric behaves as promised it is great, but when it doesn’t… big headache (all the stories matched mine). I love Tencel for its great drape and decided to brave it once again because nothing looks as nice to travels in. Wish me luck.
Hello Mags, If you launder the tencel garment, then tumble dry at medium heat..(this raises the peach skin on the fabric) then press lightly, the garment will look like it did the day you bought it, enjoy ! Steve owner, Tianello, Inc.
My sister gave me two of her hand-me-down blouses which I love. She paid a lot of money for them $195 ea. in Alaska. I was happy to read the care label that they could be washed, which I did. I hung dry only because I never use a dryer for “good” blouses. However, it wasn’t until I was ironing the blouse (and cut off and read the little white tag sewn in located at the side waist) that I realized I should not have washed it in Woolite. I called the 800 # on the tag to ask what is wrong with using Woolite and I was told that Woolite has lye in it and it can take out the dye in Tianello clothing. I recommended that they put that on the washing instruction label instead of the little white tag, and she thanked me for bringing that to her attention. My blouse is fine. Using Woolite this one time didn’t fade it, but I won’t use it again. They recommend drying in a dryer because the colors can streak if you hang dry and it makes the fabric softer. Perhaps you can dry flat instead to avoid streaking. Just use an iron, no big deal to make it soft. Reading the other comments I think the company should look into why customers are having their items shrink. People wearing Tianello don’t have the time to hang on the phone, or email endlessly the company unless there is a real problem! Customer satisfaction is the best policy Tianello, ever heard of customer feed-back on Twitter and Facebook? Reaches a lot of people. Your reputation is on the line. Treat your customers right and they will be your best repeat business. Good day to everyone.
Most manufacturers tell you not to use woolite. Seems to be a problem product.
I have many Tianello blouses and pants and my husband has over 12 Tianello men’s shirts. He wears his every week and they always go into the washer and then into the dryer on low heat. After 20 minutes or so I pull them out and they’re perfect for him to wear. If he was more picky he’d iron the collar a bit and the bottom edge of the shirt. If I get them out when they’re still a tiny bit damp I can finger press the edges just fine. I never use Woolite – was told it has a shrinking agent in it to help get sweaters back to original shape. (By the way, Woolite is also a “no no” for rayon knits – they’ll shrink to 1/3 the size!) I use Tide Free or All Clear. Our experience is that Tianello might shrink a little in length the first time washed, but not in width. My long pants lost 1/2 inch or so, which made them the perfect length for me! My pants and shirts feel a bit tighter when first put on & then when against your body heat for several minutes, relaxes just fine. Another trick we’ve learned. If you get an oily spot (drop of dressing, etc), wet the spot, rub in a bit of hair shampoo and then toss in washer. Don’t use spot cleaner or it will color change. Tianello packs and travels fantastically. If there are a few creases they’ll fall out when hung in a steamy shower room or spritz a bit with water, shake and let dry. Tianello will keep a big spot in our closets!
All Tianello garments are garment dyed which means…….. the garment is sewn from “Natural” colored TENCEL and then the garment is garment dyed to add color. The “fit” before dye is approximately 8% larger than the finished spec. The garment is then dyed at temperatures of 140 to 180 degrees(depending on the color). This process shrinks the garment 6% to 8% and as a rule…. the garment never has any MAJOR shrinkage again(anything is possible). After the dye process, the garment is steamed and pressed which makes the “contracted” garment grow to its permanent size. When the consumer washes and tumble dries the garment at medium temperature, it comes out of the dryer approximately 8% smaller(ever pull a white cotton dress shirt out of the dryer and try to wear it before ironing it……. it’s too small). So…. you iron (with steam) the Tianello garment and the “contracted” fibers relax and the garment goes back to the size the consumer bought it at.
If you don’t like to iron then I suggest you buy your favorite blouse ONE size larger…. then all you must do is touch up the collar, cuffs, and hem, with an iron.
Suggestion: Just to make sure you are happy with the fit after you wash it….always buy the blouse or pant in a size that gives you a little added ease,….. never to tight!
If you still need help to understand the garment dye process please call 800-223-8328 and ask for Steve.
It didn’t go back to the size I bought it at, it SHRANK. I couldn’t button it after I washed it! And I DID iron it with steam — had to, no way I could wear that garment unironed — and NO, ironing didn’t help. And f I have to buy it too large, just in case — then how could I possibly know what size to buy? If it doesn’t shrink (enough), I’m stuck with something that’s too big. If it shrinks more than I expected, it’s too small.
Poor quality control at Tianello. Fabric had not been property pre-shrunk. And when I contacted Tianello, a snotty customer service person told me I was wrong, it couldn’t have shrunk. But it was unwearable! I warn everyone NOT to buy Tianello!
Sorry Steve, I love the product, but I had the same experience, especially with the tanks, they shrank, especially in length.
Tori, did you iron the tank after washing?
Before you bought the tank it was garment dyed at 180 degrees
and this process shrinks the garment. When YOU wash it …. it does contract like a white cotton shirt does. When you iron it properly the contraction releases back to the correct size(as a rule)……
I just bought a Tianello blouse on vacation in Sarasota, FL. It was expensive but I love it. I googled the brand because I wanted to buy another top. I came across this blog and glad I did. I haven’t washed mine yet, but glad I saw these tips. I’m shocked at the retailers attitude and snotty customer service people that a few of you described. With the price of this clothing and the current economic situation, I would think a retailer would be kinder to its customers. In my opinion, this is not how you treat loyal customers who want to buy more of your clothing. I’m not going to buy another top. Thanks girls for this blog.
Correction to above: I’m shocked at the manufacturer’s attitude, not the retailer!
I have been buying tianello blouses for years. Im large busted and have had problems with the buttons on most blouses gaping. But never ever Tianello, and my husband does the laundry. Not even he can mess them up. They come out ready to go right from the dryer. Never ever had one shrink even a tad. LOVE my tianellos.
Live in and love my Tianellos! I wear the camp shirts and tanks with black pants as one of my favorite work outfits. My oldest set is five years old. I wash them all and hang up to dry- I don’t put any tencel, rayon or silk clothing in the dryer. And the IRONING is key- this fabric does require it. My only problem is that it’s hard to FIND the plus-sized camp shirts. Got a new job interview- need a new set!
Wow! I didn’t expect to see so many messages on this issue. I just washed my beautiful black dressy slacks and put in dyer on low. They are now too short and even shrunk between the waist and crotch so I can’t even get them to my waist. And, now they are skin tight in the hips. Completely ruined! My retailer went out of business last summer. This manufacturer is really negligent. and should stand behind their claims, esp. for the $$$ they are charging.
Not sure about the washing/shrinking issues — but do have a major complaint with the lack of sizing consistency with this brand. Ex: a cute blouse from fall 2011 collection was offered in a few different colors, both printed and solid. I tried on LOTS of them — and noticed that even in exact same style, the SIZE felt/fit differently depending on which color/fabric.
Across the brand, in fact, you can’t figure out WHAT size to get because there is so much variation. This is common between different brands, but WITHIN the same brand??? Holy cow. The salespeople tell me that they complain to the “Reps” about this, but don’t know exactly how the manufacturer will mitigate this ongoing issue.
Brand consistency and reliability are key to women who don’t mind spending money on good clothes.
somebody needs to thrattle steve, he seems to be able to get the concepts of shrinkage and hate to iron into his head
I meant UNable!
Who cares?! Their fabrics are so beautiful it’s worth any trouble to own them! Try dry cleaning, or not washing them ever! Just stop complaining and whining about Tianello!
LOVE TIANELLO…there IS an inconsistancy with the sizes..for example, the Aida blouse runs extremely large…I wear an XXL up to 2x depending on the brand, but I wear a medium in the Aida top…but the SUZY blouse runs small…need a 1-2x. other styles have similar discrepancies, the lightweight rayons sometimes run large. Answer: know your bust size and order accordingly..I say bust size becase that’s where most women have trouble..with the gapping in the bust area…I don’t wear the pants because I am 6 feet tall and pants are ALWAYS too short for me (shrunk or not.)..I launder with my other clothes and Use a hand steamer (great if you hate ironing) never have a problem, own several colors and styles and TIANELLO is always my search on ebay. Second hand is less expensive..they’ve already been washed and dried, and you always get the exact measurements! Thanks for listening! M