Care labels reveal future maintenance and predict longevity. 'Dry clean only' costs £3-8 per cleaning and adds friction. 'Hand wash' rarely happens in practice (the label-defying item gets machine-washed and degrades). 'Machine wash cold' is the realistic everyday clothing label.
What to factor in before buying
How often will you actually clean it. How much does cleaning cost. Will you really hand-wash. Skip 'dry clean only' for everyday pieces unless you're prepared to follow it.
Read the label before buying. Most disappointment with new clothes comes from care requirements that don't match how you actually live.