But don't wash it with your gi unless you want your gi to change color. The people you see in videos and books demonstrating kata usually have their uniforms hand-tailored. They have the uniform custom designed around their measurements, and that's why their uniforms never have quite the sloppy look that yours and mine have. Gi are available in a variety of makes. Beginners should probably not invest in expensive uniforming until they are sure that they enjoy the practice of karate.
Belts also come in a variety of flavors.
Color belts are usually pretty standard, although there are noticable changes in quality from one brand to another as far as color tone, cloth, cut, and stitching. Black belts come in a variety of styles and materials. Cotton belts wear out more slowly, but silk belts are prettier when new. Also, the silk belts wear out gracefully and have better movement and presentation quality when performing a kata in front of a crowd. The wear and tear on a belt is meaningless as to the skill of the holder.