How to Store Your Jacket Between Seasons Without Damaging It
You spent good money on a quality custom jacket. It looks great, it fits well, and your team loves it. Then the season ends, it goes into storage — and six months later, you pull it out to find the wool has pilled, the leather sleeves have cracked, or there's a musty smell that wasn't there before.
Proper storage takes ten minutes. It saves you from replacing a jacket that should have lasted years. Here's exactly what to do.
Clean It Before You Store It
This is the step most people skip, and it's the most important one. Never store a dirty jacket. Sweat, body oils, food residue, and invisible stains all break down fabric over time — and they attract moths and other insects that can cause permanent damage.
For wool-bodied jackets: dry clean or spot clean before storage. Do not machine wash a wool varsity jacket. For faux leather sleeves: wipe down with a damp cloth and a mild soap solution, then let it dry completely before storing. For genuine leather sleeves: apply a small amount of leather conditioner before storage. This keeps the leather supple and prevents cracking during long periods without wear.
Always make sure the jacket is completely dry before it goes into storage. Even slight dampness can cause mould to develop in an enclosed space.
Use a Proper Hanger — Not a Wire One
A wire dry-cleaning hanger will distort the shoulder seams of a jacket over time. Use a wide, padded hanger that supports the full width of the shoulders. This maintains the jacket's shape during storage and prevents those frustrating shoulder bumps that are almost impossible to remove.
Store It in a Breathable Garment Bag
Plastic garment bags trap moisture and can cause condensation, which leads to mould and mildew. Use a breathable cotton or non-woven fabric garment bag instead. This allows air to circulate around the jacket while keeping dust and insects out.
Avoid storing jackets in sealed plastic boxes or vacuum storage bags — these are designed for fabrics that don't need to breathe, and they can damage structured garments like jackets.
Choose the Right Storage Location
Where you store the jacket matters as much as how. Avoid: attics (temperature extremes and humidity damage both wool and leather), basements (damp environments accelerate mould), direct sunlight (fades colour rapidly), and areas near radiators or heating vents (dry heat cracks leather and dries out wool).
The ideal storage location is a cool, dry, dark space with stable temperature — a bedroom wardrobe or a dedicated coat cupboard is usually perfect.
Add Cedar Blocks or Lavender Sachets
Both cedar and lavender are natural moth deterrents. Place a cedar block or a small lavender sachet inside the garment bag with your jacket. Replace cedar blocks annually as they lose effectiveness over time. This simple step protects your jacket from one of the most common causes of wool garment damage during storage.
Check It Periodically
If the jacket is in storage for more than three months, take it out once to air it and check for any issues. A quick inspection every few months allows you to catch any problems — a developing spot, a moth issue, unexpected dampness — before they become irreversible.
Bringing It Back Out
When the season comes around again, take the jacket out a few days early. Let it air at room temperature for 24 hours before wearing it. For leather sleeves that feel slightly stiff, a small amount of leather conditioner worked in gently will restore suppleness. For wool that has any minor creasing, steaming (not ironing directly) will relax the fibres without damaging the fabric.
Wool-bodied and leather-sleeve styles each need slightly different care, so check which fabric your jacket uses before storing it.
