Wardrobe Care
Your wardrobe is more than a coordinated collection of fine custom suits and other made to measure garments. It is an investment in your career and overall enjoyment of life. You do not need to hire an investment counselor to maximize the returns from this investment. You need simply to invest a little time learning how to care for your assets.
Your clothes should not live only on your body and inside the closet. When you return home or to your hotel room, drape suit jackets and sport coats over a chair and let them air out overnight. Pants should also enjoy a respite over the arm of a chair and never be hung on a wire hanger.
Dry cleaning is a miracle of modern times but not a solution for every stain or blemish that makes an appearance on your garments. Trust the advice of a custom clothing shop owner: Dry cleaning actually shortens the life of clothing, as it tends to weaken fibers with harmful long-term effects. Many stains can actually be addressed using proven remedies that range from water and soap to dry cleaning products. Some specifics will be detailed in this section.
In your closet
Pants or slacks should be hung from the cuff or hem, or placed on hangers with a horizontal bar that allows the garment to fold over without leaving a crease.
Avoid wire hangers, as they may rust and leave stains on fabrics, or even tear garments. In Singapore, one of the world’s tailoring capital, legend has it that the very sight of a cheap hanger in a custom tailor shop is sufficient to ask the user to pack his bags and pursue a different career.
Be sure your closet is clean, well ventilated and maintains a moderate temperature and humidity. Remember to give your clothes a little breathing room by leaving some space between hangers.
Custom jackets, shirts and suit coats should be kept on padded and rounded hangers that a fine tailor provides as a matter of course. These substantial hangers are the same types used by the custom tailor shop. They are perfect for preserving the shape or shoulders and preventing unsightly creases and droopy shoulders.
Tight Knit Groups
Sweaters and other knitted garments are a sensitive lot. They should be folded, as this allows them to maintain their shape (Hangers are not so understanding). Fold them a little differently each time so they will not develop creases. Underwear and socks should be rolled to save space and avoid wrinkles.
Changes of Season
When a garment is retired for the season, be sure to launder or dry clean it prior to storage. This procedure will ensure that there are no residues of food on the garment that may attract moth larvae.
The storage area should be clean, well ventilated and away from sunlight.
Canvas storage bags are ideal. Plastic bags are to be avoided, as they tend to create a sauna effect that is not exactly rejuvenating to the garment and can cause mildew.
Lengthy Storage
Custom shirts should be laundered and suits and slacks dry cleaned prior to long-term storage. Choose a well-ventilated storage area that maintains a moderate temperature close to 75 degrees F and a humidity of around 50%. The containers you use depend on the garment types. Woolen clothing should go into a cedar trunk or chest that is sealed and lined with a well-laundered white sheet. Other clothing can be stored in lightweight plastic boxes that have vents and are waterproof. Ideally, an acid-free tissue paper should be placed between folded items to preserve their good looks.