Between deciding “I'm getting my jersey framed” and the parcel arriving with us, there are a few decisions that cannot be undone afterwards. The most important one comes right at the start: wash it or not. This guide goes through what you should do beforehand – and what you are better off leaving alone.
Signed jersey: please do not wash it
The clear rule first: a signed jersey does not belong in the washing machine. Not on a delicate cycle, not by hand either. Autographs are almost always written with a marker, and its pigments sit on the fibre, not in it. Water, friction and detergent loosen them: at best the signature fades noticeably, at worst it bleeds into a shadow. There is no undoing that.
The same applies to supposedly harmless intermediate steps such as steam, stain spray or rinsing out a single spot. If you are unsure whether a signature is fixed, assume that it is not.
Unsigned jersey: carefully, yes
With an unsigned jersey it looks different. There is nothing against freshening it up before framing – cold, on a delicate cycle, turned inside out and without fabric softener. Watch out for flock and flex print: names, numbers and sponsor logos react badly to heat. So no tumble dryer, and do not iron directly over them.
With a genuine match-worn piece, take a second to think first. Signs of use from a real game are part of the story – and once washed out, they are gone.
Fold creases and wrinkles
A jersey that has spent years folded in a cupboard comes with creases. That is usually less dramatic than it looks: light creases pull themselves smooth when the jersey is stretched into the frame, and we align it during the build anyway.
What you can do: hang the jersey on a wide hanger a few days before shipping so the sharpest creases settle on their own. What you should not do: run an iron over the signature or the print. If ironing happens at all, do it from the inside, on a low setting and with a generous margin around signature and print.
Stains and smell
With old stains the honest answer is: on signed pieces we usually leave them exactly as they are. The risk to the signature outweighs the visual gain, and in the finished frame far less shows than you would think looking from 30 cm away. A grass stain from a real match is evidence rather than a flaw anyway.
Against a musty smell from long storage, hanging the jersey in the open air for a few days usually does the job – in a shaded spot, not in the sun.
Storage until the appointment
Until the jersey comes to us, the rule is: dark, dry and temperature-stable. Cellars and attics are neither. Store the piece flat or on a wide hanger, and do not leave it in a plastic bag for weeks – moisture builds up underneath. If you want something between the layers, use acid-free paper.
What we need from you in advance
Before you send anything, photos are enough: the jersey laid out flat and fully in frame, the signature in close-up and – if there is one – the trading card and certificate of authenticity. From that we estimate format, layout and effort. If you already have an idea for frame colour or mount, write it down straight away; if not, we will suggest something.
If you are unsure about the authenticity of a signature, the guide Is my autograph real? helps beforehand.
Shipping to us
For packing: fold the jersey loosely, do not compress it, and wrap it in a clean layer of paper or fabric before it goes into a sturdy box. Trading cards belong in their case and padded separately alongside. For signed pieces, insured shipping is worth it – the value is higher than the parcel suggests. The return journey runs insured and in our special packaging anyway.
Not sure whether your jersey can go into a frame as it is? Send us a few photos – we will tell you in advance what works and what we would rather leave alone.