Back to the journal

Care

How to Make a Tailored Suit Last Twenty Years

Rest, brushing, steaming, and the one thing never to do with a wool suit. A maintenance routine that costs nothing and protects years of work.

A bespoke garment is an investment with a physical form. Ten minutes of maintenance a month will keep it in rotation for two decades; ignoring it will shorten that to three years.

Give it a night off

Wool needs to recover. Hang the jacket on a wide, wooden hanger and let it rest a full day between wears. The fabric releases the compression in the shoulder and the fibres return to their original length. Avoid wire hangers entirely; they will set a permanent curve.

Brush, do not rub

A natural bristle brush with light strokes, always in the direction of the nap, removes dust before it becomes ground-in soil. A lint roller is useful for a quick tidy, but it is not a substitute for brushing.

The only thing you must not do

Never put a wool suit in a tumble dryer. Heat and mechanical action will felt the fibres, shrink the cloth, and leave you with a garment that no longer breathes. If a suit is truly dirty, it belongs with a professional cleaner who understands wool.

Steam, brush, rest. Those three words are the whole maintenance manual.