Outstanding designs, a perfect fit and excellent quality have been our unique selling points from day one. Together with our partners, we strive to make high-quality and durable products, putting lots of love and effort into the process to make sure you can wear our lingerie and swimwear for years. Why? Because we care. About you and about the environment. Your favorite marlies|dekkers bra doesn't just support you physically; it supports you emotionally as well. Your 'lucky' bra - the one you like to wear to important meetings - boosts not only your silhouette, but also your confidence. Worth making them last as long as possible, don't you think? We asked our experts how to best take care of your beloved items in three different stages:

WEAR Fayola Wekker (39) works for Marlies Dekkers as a Fit & Style expert. Her favorite bra? The 'Lady from Shanghai' plunge balcony bra. "I've been wearing it for as long as I've been working for Marlies: nearly 10 years!" she tells us. When it comes to sustainability, the secret to making your lingerie last starts with the perfect fit, according to Fayola. "I first focus on finding the customer's correct band size. Too tight, and the elastic overstretches. Too wide, and you may compensate by hiking up the shoulder straps, which wears them out unnecessarily." The right cup size is equally important. "It prevents the wires from piercing the fabric or bending out of shape. And pay attention to how you store your bras at home". Folding in half is a big no, especially for molded bras. Fayola suggests laying your bras flat in a drawer. "You can even stack a few, to save space." She laughs. "Not everybody has a walk-in closet for their lingerie, right?"

WASH Merchandise & Sustainability manager Jetske Verbeek (42) started working for Marlies Dekkers in 2007. Her favorite bra, the 'Peekaboo’, was launched during the same year. "That's what I call sustainable: styles that never go out of fashion," she tells us. According to Jetske, laundering with love can help both the environment and the longevity of your pieces: "Wash by hand preferably, using a small amount of eco-friendly laundry detergent. For a machine wash, choose a 'delicate wash' setting (no higher than 30°C) and place your lingerie in a mesh laundry bag." She hastens to add: "Always fasten the clasp of your bra, so the hooks don't catch and rip the fabric!". Using a dryer is taboo. "The heat can damage the elastane in the fabric and affect the metal of the wires," Jetske explains. Laying your laundry flat on a towel is a better, gentler option. "In the end, caring for the planet and for your beloved pieces go hand in hand."

REPAIR Eight years ago, Jill van der Ploeg (now 31) saw the light. "As soon as I tried on my first MD bra - a light blue Space Odyssey - I realized that gorgeous lingerie can be comfortable!" With the bra still looking brand new today, Jill has been able to add 'sustainable' to the mix. And as our Customer Service Manager, she really enjoys helping others get the same long-lasting wear out of their treasured MD pieces. "Our swimwear, for example, is known to be of outstanding quality. But if you repeatedly forget to rinse out the pieces after swimming, the chlorine or sea salt may affect the color of the metal hardware," Jill tells us, adding: "In which case, we're happy to send you a new clasp or slider." Believing that prevention is still better than cure, Jill likes to refer customers to the excellent product care instructions on the MD website. "Spending a few minutes getting informed can add years to the lifespan of your lingerie and swimwear while contributing to a better planet. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!"