Record materials and care
Composition text is the cheapest prediction available about how an item will age. Copy it exactly, add what the photograph shows, and note what nobody has told you yet — then compare the upkeep, not just the price.
An information card per item
Five fields are enough: stated composition, care instructions as written, visible texture or finish, any construction detail you can see, and open questions. Copy the composition string rather than paraphrasing — "80% wool, 20% polyamide" is a different claim from "wool blend".
| Field | A: wool-blend coat | B: quilted gilet |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 80% wool, 20% polyamide | 100% recycled polyamide |
| Care text | Dry clean only | Machine wash 30°C |
| Visible texture | Dense twill, matte finish | Smooth, slight sheen |
| Construction | Set-in sleeve, two buttons | Horizontal quilting, snap front |
| Open questions | Lining composition unstated | Whether filling is down or synthetic |
What the image shows, and what it does not
A photograph can suggest weight and surface — a tight twill reads differently from a loose knit — but it cannot tell you how a fabric drapes, whether it pills, or how it behaves in rain. Note the impression as an impression, in a separate column, so it never hardens into a fact.
Comparing upkeep, not just price
Dry-clean-only wool costs money every season; a machine-washable synthetic costs time. Write the likely cleaning route and an honest upkeep note in the row. Two items at the same price are not equivalent if one needs professional cleaning twice a year and the other does not — and that difference belongs in a budget comparison.
The label decides the method
Never record a cleaning method you inferred. The care label on the item, or the care text the seller publishes for that exact product, is the only basis for a method, and it can differ between two colours of the same style. Where you cannot see it, write "care label not shown" and ask.
Materials sit alongside the visual checks in reading inspection photos and the fit fields in measurements and sizes. Use them to judge seasonal suitability in adapting a list to the season, then compare totals on the hipobuy spreadsheet home page.
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