Sleep Token merch is not just a T-shirt or a hoodie. It's a piece of the ritual. The band's entire aesthetic runs on intention, from the masked figure of Vessel to the slow build of each song. Your gear carries that same energy, and how you care for it should reflect that mindset. Without the right approach, the deep blacks fade, the prints start to crack, and the fabric loses its shape. In a few songs' time, you would have worn it out. This guide is for keeping your ritual gear alive, not just for a season, but for as many rituals as you have left.
Why Proper Care Extends the Life of Your Ritual Gear
Your Sleep Token merch goes through a lot. It stands in hot, sweaty crowds, gets caught in the rain at outdoor shows, and comes home smelling like a dark night on the road. But every piece of merch is also a memory. That worn-out hem from a pit you dove into, that faint stain from a drink you spilled when the breakdown hit - they all mark your journey. If you want those memories to stay, you need to give the garment the same care the band gives to their craft.
Beyond the sentiment, there's the practical side. Sleep Token's merch is printed on quality fabrics. The prints are vibrant, the blacks are deep, and the details are intricate. That quality costs money. A hoodie or a tee that costs $60 or $80 deserves better than a careless wash in hot water. With proper care, your gear can last for years without fading, cracking, or shrinking.
There's also a ritual in the care itself. When you wash your merch with intention, you're not just cleaning a piece of cotton - you're preparing it for the next show. Like the band's slow, deliberate build-ups, the calm act of turning a shirt inside out, checking the tags, and using cold water is a quiet ceremony. It's a small, mindful practice that mirrors the philosophy at the heart of Sleep Token's music: patience, attention, and devotion.
Washing Instructions for Sleep Token Hoodies and Tees
Before anything, read the tags. Every piece of merch has specific instructions for a reason, and those little symbols matter. But as a general rule, the golden rules are simple: wash inside out, in cold water, and on a gentle cycle. This is the safe zone for almost all Sleep Token shirts and hoodies.
Turn the garment inside out before you put it in the machine. This protects the printed design from rubbing against other clothes, which is the main cause of premature cracking and fading. Wash your merch with other dark colors, not with whites or light garments, to avoid any risk of dye transfer. Use a mild, phosphate-free liquid detergent - powder detergents can be abrasive and leave residue on prints. And skip the fabric softener completely. Fabric softener coats the fibers in a waxy layer that dulls the colors and breaks down the elasticity over time. If you need that softness, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle - it does the same thing without the damage.
For hoodies, also zip up any zippers and fasten buttons to prevent them catching on the fabric. And don't overstuff the machine. Your merch needs room to move and rinse properly. If you have a heavily soiled piece - maybe from a muddy festival - pre-treat the stains with a small amount of detergent before washing. Never soak them in hot water, and never use bleach, even on the whites (unless they're always white, which for Sleep Token, is unlikely).
Drying and Ironing: Avoiding Damage to Prints
Drying is where most merch gets ruined. High heat is the enemy of both fabric and prints. The tumbling action plus the heat can cause shrinkage and make the print crack or peel. The safest and best method is to air dry. Hang your tees on a line or lay them flat on a clean towel. If you're drying hoodies, hang them by the shoulders on a wide hanger to avoid creating a hook, and use a padded hanger or the bottom hem if the shoulders are prone to stretching.
If you must use a machine dryer, set it on the lowest heat possible and remove the items while they are still slightly damp. Let them finish drying on a line or on a drying rack. This minimizes both shrinkage and the risk of prints degrading from constant tumbling. Never tumble dry embroidery or fabric patches, as the edges can fray.
Ironing is even more dangerous. Do not place a hot iron directly onto the printed design. The heat will melt the vinyl or break the plastisol film, leaving permanent cracks and bubbles. Always turn the garment inside out and iron on the reverse side, using a low to medium heat setting without steam. If you absolutely need to iron the outside, place a thin cotton cloth or a piece of parchment paper between the iron and the print. And never, ever use a high-heat setting on a hoodie, because you'll compress the fleece and ruin the softness.
Storing Your Sleep Token Collection the Right Way
How you store your merch between wearing shows is just as important as how you wash it. The general rule is: clean items last longer. Always wash your gear before storing it for long periods. Sweat, skin oils, and maybe dirt can attract moths and cause yellowish stains over time. Make sure the garment is completely dry before storing - even slightly damp fabric can develop mildew.
For T-shirts, the best approach is to fold them and store them flat or on a shelf. Hanging T-shirts on thin wire hangers can stretch the neckline and distort the shoulders. If you prefer to hang, use a wide, padded hanger and keep them in a cool, dark closet. Hoodies and sweatshirts are better also folded, or hung on thick hangers that support the weight without creating pointy stretch marks.
Keep your collection in a cool, dry, and dark place. Direct sunlight will fade black fabric and prints over time, so avoid display windows or shelves that catch the sun. Avoid storing your merch in plastic dry-cleaning bags in a damp basement or a hot attic. Instead, use breathable cotton garment bags if you want extra protection. For accessories like tote bags, beanies, and patches, store them in a drawer or a box, away from moisture and insects.
Common Care Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even with the best intentions, mistakes happen. The key is to catch them early and fix them before they become permanent.
One of the most common issues is pilling. That happens when you wash heavy items like hoodies with jeans or other abrasive fabrics. The friction causes little balls of fiber to form. If you already see pilling, use a fabric shaver - those small battery-operated devices gently remove the fuzz without damaging the fabric. To prevent it, always turn the garment inside out and wash with similar, non-abrasive fabrics.
Another frequent mistake is using hot water. If a garment shrinks, it's almost impossible to completely reverse, but you can try to relax the fibers. Soak the item in lukewarm water with a couple of tablespoons of hair conditioner for about 15 minutes. Then gently stretch the fabric back to size while it's wet and air dry. It works for cotton blends, but not always, so it's better to avoid hot washes entirely.
Print cracking usually comes from ironing directly over the design or from high-heat drying. Once a print has cracked, the damage is mostly permanent. But you can slow the progress by turning the garment inside out and applying a clear, low-heat iron patch to the back of the print. This won't fully restore it, but it will keep the pieces from flaking off. The next time you see a crack starting, treat it carefully and remember: cold wash, low heat, and no iron on the front.
And what about deodorant stains? They show up on black tees as crusty white marks. The best fix is to gently work a small amount of mild dish soap mixed with water into the stain before washing, or use a bit of white vinegar. It usually comes out in the wash if you haven't dried it first. Don't use bleach, even on the white marks, because it can lighten the fabric permanently.
Keeping your Sleep Token merch in top shape is all about being deliberate. The same care you give to the music and to the live experience should extend to the objects that symbolize it. When you treat your gear with intent, it holds its power for years.
If you're looking to add to your collection, check out the Sleep Token merch section on our site. And if you want more care guides for the bands you love, subscribe to our newsletter for fresh drops and practical tips.
