Caring For Your Custom Suit
(photography by Megan Jo Photo)
by Hannah Villanueva
Suit care is just as important as the creation of your custom piece. The entire process of designing, fitting, and tailoring your suit is a lengthy and meticulous journey. Every step of the creation of your suit is done with the most care. At the heart of every garment is a team of dedicated tailors and designers with honest dedication to the craft. Your finished suit should exude quality. Caring for your custom made garment is an important part of the bespoke and made-to-measure experience. Whether you’ve created a garment for a wedding, special occasion, of everyday wear–we put together a guide to caring for your suit. We believe the longevity of your suit is as significant as how it looks and feels.
Suit care begins with proper storage. Before we send you out of the shop, we steam and press your garment and use our trusted, breathable, fabric garment bags to keep your suit intact. Down the line, if you happen to lose our garment bag, find one that holds the entire suit, is breathable and zips up without leaving any part of the suit exposed.
Keeping your suit away from direct sunlight is a must. It should be in a dry and enclosed space such as your closet. Keeping it in a garment bag is a best practice so that no moths damage your clothes. If there is an instance of pesky moths in your wardrobe, try out a moth box near the area.
Hanging up your clothes properly can make all the difference. It may seem like common sense, but folding your tuxedo pants versus using a clasped hanger can help keep the waist of the pants looking clean. We also recommend using strong solid wood hangers instead of plastic hangers.
If you have the time, we recommend going to the professionals. Take your garments to your local dry cleaners and have it neatly pressed. For instances when there is not enough time, using a steamer at home for your suit will do.
It’s always a good idea to keep a lint remover or fabric brush to brush off any dust or lint on your garment. If it’s been tucked inside a suitcase, let it hang and air out as well.
Go to the dry cleaners sparingly, we recommend only taking your items when they are in need of cleaning up a spill. Accidents happen!
If you’re traveling on a plane, some airlines have the option to hang your suit in a closet. However, in the instance this isn’t available, you can fold it over your carry-on in the overhead space. If packing for a trip where there will be lots of moving around, we recommend folding it inside your carry-on. Just be sure to not have any liquids or anything that could damage the suit near it.
As age goes on or as workout regimens change, so does the body. We know that the suit you fit for yourself three years ago or six months ago may look different depending on any number of lifestyle and health changes. If the waist of your trousers aren’t as well fitted as they used to be or the closure of a jacket is a bit looser than it used to be, we recommend having your suit altered. If it’s a garment that was designed by us, book an appointment for another fitting.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that your suit should be a piece that you feel comfortable to wear as often as you want to. Investing in a high quality custom made garment that you love is something that should last. Caring for your suit also means wearing it too and enjoying it! The next time you’re ready to make a custom suit, sport coat, overcoat, or trousers book a consultation for another piece you will truly enjoy!