Packing a Suit for Travel: How to Avoid Creases

Crease-Free in Hand Luggage

Perhaps the simplest solution for crease-free suits while travelling are suit bags and garment bags. When unfolded, jackets & Co. can be easily stored inside the bag. Some garment bags include integrated hangers or elastic straps to keep the clothing neat and slip-resistant. Then fold the garment bag back together after placing the clothes inside.

Suit bags or garment bags are usually carried as hand luggage.

Keep in mind that it is not possible to carry additional hand luggage unless you are travelling in Business Class. Make sure the size of the garment bag complies with your airline’s hand luggage regulations, although most garment bags do not exceed the usual dimensions of 57 x 54 x 15 cm.

Use practical combinations of suit and laptop bags to carry your valuables with you. This also solves the problem of how and where to transport your electronic devices during the trip.

In our online shop, you will find a selection of garment bags from premium brands.

Suit in the Suitcase

If you want to carry a different bag as hand luggage, you have the option to transport your suit in a Pack-it Folder inside the suitcase.

The lightweight, thin pouch follows the same principle as the garment bag: you unfold it, place the clothes inside, and fold the folder back up. This way, you protect the clothes from the other contents of the suitcase. Compared to the garment bag, the Pack-it Folder has the great advantage that, due to its thin and lightweight materials, neither space nor weight is lost for the rest of the suitcase’s contents.

Make sure not to pack the suitcase too full or too empty to avoid creases caused by too much pressure or the Pack-it Folder shifting.

Inside Out & Outside Out Folding Technique

If you don’t often travel with your suit and don’t want to buy an additional bag, we offer some suitable tips to transport your suit crease-free.

INSIDE OUT FOLDING TECHNIQUE

1. For this folding technique, turn the jacket inside out by folding the collar back so that the inside of the jacket faces outward. However, do not turn the sleeves inside out; they remain inside.
    
2. Now fold the jacket inward along the middle so that the open side is at the front. Make sure the sleeves inside the jacket do not crease.
    
3. Fold the suit trousers along the creases and the shirt neatly. First place the trousers on the lower half of the folded jacket, then lay the shirt on top.
    
4. Fold the upper half of the jacket over the shirt and trousers to protect them.

OUTSIDE OUT FOLDING TECHNIQUE

1. With the Outside Out folding technique, you fold the suit together with other luggage items into a “package.” First, place the jacket upright in the lower half of the open suitcase. Fold it outward so that both sleeves and the bottom of the jacket stick out of the suitcase, while the shoulder area remains completely inside.
    
2. Now place the suit trousers centered and crosswise over the jacket. In this case, the trouser legs stick out from both sides of the suitcase. Make sure to fold the trousers along the crease.
    
3. Fill the hollow spaces of the jacket with other luggage items. Roll casual clothes, like T-shirts, and place them in the shoulder areas to support and maintain the shape. Arrange shirts offset on top of each other at chest height. Place rolled belts inside the collars of the shirts to maintain their shape there as well.
    
4. Fill the remaining space with other clothing items and use, for example, socks or underwear to fill small gaps at the top and bottom. Also, stuff your shoes with socks to fill larger gaps without losing their shape. This way, the clothes will have better support later and won’t shift around inside the suitcase.
    
5. Once you have filled the bottom of the suitcase, start folding the “package” together. First fold the trouser legs over the clothes lying on top and tuck in any ends that stick out.
    
6. Then fold the protruding bottom and side of the jacket inward toward the inside of the suitcase over the package.
    
7. Finally, fold the other side of the jacket over and “seal” the package. When layering, make sure the sleeves do not crease.

Note that when packing, heavy items should be at the bottom and lighter items on top.

Newspaper and Tissue Paper

If you are looking for a not too time-consuming option, use newspaper or tissue paper, placing it inside and outside between the different layers. Fold the jacket, shirt, and trousers neatly and place a piece of newspaper or tissue paper between each fold layer. Also, when stacking the different clothing items, place a piece in between each. This protects the individual layers from rubbing against each other and prevents fabric abrasion.

Airtight ZIP Bags

Another insider tip is airtight ZIP bags. These are not only suitable for carrying the allowed amount of liquids in your hand luggage but also, in larger sizes, for storing your suit. For this, place a neatly and crease-free folded suit in the ZIP bag and seal it airtight without pressing the bag flat beforehand. The remaining air in the bag acts as a cushion to protect the suit from pressure creases. However, be careful not to leave too much air in the bag, as the suit will then slide back and forth and crease again.

When Something Goes Wrong

If something goes wrong despite the above tips and your suit does not survive the trip crease-free, we offer some quick help tips to combat creases as quickly and easily as possible.

Remove the Suit from the Suitcase as Soon as Possible

Upon arrival, always take the suit out of the suitcase or garment bag as soon as possible. Leaving it lying for a long time intensifies the creases in the fabric. Hang the suit on a hanger so the creases can fall out as much as possible.

Take a Shower with the Suit

Warning: We don’t mean you should step into the shower or bathtub wearing your suit. Hang your suit on a hanger and take it with you into the bathroom while you shower. The resulting humidity smooths the fabric of the suit. Then let the suit air out in another room and voilà, the suit is crease-free.

Plan Z: The Hotel Laundry Service

If nothing else helps, resort to the last option: inquire about the hotel laundry service and have your suit ironed or steamed there. In some hotels, you’re lucky because this service is offered free of charge.

We hope our tips and tricks have been helpful and wish you much success in keeping your suit crease-free on your next trip.