5 Essential Tips for Maintaining Your Custom Tailored Clothing
A well-made suit can last for many years, but only if it is looked after. In Hong Kong that takes a little extra thought. Our humidity is regularly above 80 per cent in spring and summer, and the damp "回南天" (wui naam tin) spells in early spring, when walls and floors seem to sweat, are notoriously hard on clothes. Wool and cotton absorb moisture from the air, and a suit shut away in a warm, closed wardrobe is exactly where mould likes to grow.
The good news is that a few simple habits prevent most problems. Here are our five essential tips, with Hong Kong conditions in mind.
1. Let your clothes breathe before you put them away
After a day in the heat, a crowded MTR carriage or a sudden downpour, your suit has absorbed moisture. Hanging it straight into the wardrobe traps that moisture inside.
Hang your jacket and trousers somewhere airy, ideally an air-conditioned room, for a few hours or overnight before putting them away
If your suit gets caught in the rain, let it dry naturally on a hanger, away from direct heat
Rest a suit for at least a day between wears, so the fibres can recover and dry out fully
If you wear suits often, rotating two or three makes each one last much longer
2. Control the humidity in your wardrobe
This is the single most important step for anyone keeping good clothes in Hong Kong.
Run a dehumidifier in the bedroom, or use your air conditioner's "dry" mode, particularly in spring and summer
Place moisture absorber boxes inside the wardrobe, and check and replace them regularly, as they fill surprisingly quickly in wet weather
A cheap hygrometer tells you what you are dealing with; a relative humidity of roughly 50 to 60 per cent is a sensible target for storing clothes
Do not pack the wardrobe tightly. Leave space between garments so air can circulate
Open the wardrobe doors now and then on dry days to let fresh air in
3. Store your suits properly
How a suit hangs affects its shape as much as how it is cleaned.
Use broad, shaped wooden hangers that support the shoulders. Thin wire hangers leave dents and let the jacket sag
Hang trousers by the hem or fold them neatly over a padded bar
Empty the pockets before hanging, as keys and phones stretch the fabric
Swap plastic dry-cleaning bags for breathable cotton garment bags. Plastic traps moisture, which is the last thing you want in Hong Kong
Cedar blocks or hangers help deter moths and absorb a little moisture
Only store clothes that are clean. Food, sweat and skin oils attract both moths and mould
4. Clean less often, but clean smarter
Dry cleaning is useful, but the chemicals and pressing wear fabric down over time. Most suits need professional cleaning far less often than people think.
Brush your suit after wearing it with a soft clothes brush to lift dust and lint
Deal with small marks quickly by blotting gently with a damp cloth. Test on a hidden area first
Use a steamer to refresh creases and freshen the fabric between wears
If you iron, use a pressing cloth to avoid shine on wool
Send it for dry cleaning when it is stained, smells stale or looks tired, not after every wear, and use a cleaner experienced with tailored clothing
Clean the jacket and trousers together, so they age at the same rate and stay the same shade
Shirts are different: wash them after each wear, as sweat left in collars and cuffs causes yellowing. Do not leave damp shirts sitting in a laundry basket in humid weather.
5. Check your clothes regularly
Make a habit of looking over your clothes every few weeks, especially the ones you wear less often.
Look for small white or green spots, or a musty smell, especially on the shoulders, under the collar, inside pockets and on the lining
If you find mould, take the garment outside, brush it gently, let it air in the shade and then have it professionally cleaned. Then deal with the humidity in the wardrobe it came from, or it will come back
Check for loose buttons and threads and sort them out early
Look for signs of moths, such as small holes or fine webbing, particularly on wool you have not worn for a while
A final word
Good care is not complicated. Keep your clothes dry, give them room, clean them sensibly and check them now and then, and a well-made suit will reward you for years. If you have questions about caring for a particular fabric, just ask Larry when you visit.
For more on choosing cloths that cope well with our weather, read our
guide to the best suit fabrics for Hong Kong's heat and humidity
.
Visit Rashmi Custom Tailors
Rashmi Custom Tailors has been making suits and shirts on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui since 1987. To book a fitting with Larry, send a WhatsApp message to +852 9745 7058 or email [email protected].