How to care for your suits

Cleaning: Any suit that you've spent more than a few thousand rupees on can not be washed in a washing machine. There is a lot of stuff going on inside a good suit that make it look sharp, fitted and comfortable to wear. One round in a washing machine is all it takes to ruin this beautiful work.

Dry cleaning is the only method of cleaning a good suit without risking ruining it's appearance. That said you really don't have to do it too often and it's better not to. Dry cleaners use a lot chemicals in cleaning that gradually wear down your suit.
Good suits are made of natural fibres that naturally dispel the nasty stuff like sweat and food they pick up during a days wear. You just need to let it hang for a day or 2 outside the wardrobe and hey presto he's ready to go again! However sometimes dry cleaning is necessarily, for example a glass of red wine or a plate of bolognese sauce will be way too much for your suit to handle. If wearing a suit on a weekly basis generally 1 dry clean every 2-3 months is sufficient. The smell test is a good one, if it's smelling 'ripe' then it's time to freshen him up with a clean. If you get a spot or small stain on your suit and otherwise the suit is ok you do not have to dry clean the whole thing, just ask for a spot clean.

And it's advisable to clean your entire suit not just the trousers. Dry cleaning will very gradually change the colour of your suit (over years!) and you want to keep it all matching.
Pressing: Do not use a dry iron directly on your suit! This will burn the fibres and turn it shiny in no time. Get a steamer or a steam iron and use a (clean) cloth in between the iron and your suit so the iron never touches the fabric. This is particularly good for a quick sharpen of your trouser creases.
If wearing your suit on a weekly basis drop your suit into a dry cleaner for a full press (not dry clean). This may cost nearly as much as a dry clean but see above regarding the harms of too much dry cleaning.
Hanging: Get a nice wide arm hanger (our suits always come with one) this will keep the shoulder shape and allow it to drape properly while in the wardrobe. It also gives some space for the lining to air out and release any moisture build up.
Hanging trousers on a clip hanger from the hem will help your creases stay sharp. The weight of the waistband provides just enough pull to keep things in shape.

Finally hang overnight outside the wardrobe before putting it in once you get up in the morning. Even better for a full 24 hours. This helps your suit breathe and dispel smells and nasties.

Packing: See our other guide for packing your suit for travel.

Storing: Not all suits are made for year round wear, your lightweight summer jackets and heavy winter coats may need to be stored for many months until the right season comes. You should dry clean your suit before storing for a long period, this will strip out any food particles (that moths love!). Keep it in a suit cover and allow it enough space in your wardrobe to hang without being crushed.

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