Why your second suit is quicker than your first
A common worry is that bespoke always means months. It does at the start; after that, your pattern does the work.
Looking after a wool suit through the monsoon
Damp, not wear, is what ruins a good suit in Delhi. A few habits keep it in shape.
From July to September, Delhi wardrobes stay damp for weeks at a time. Wool can take a lot of wear, but it does not like sitting in humid, closed spaces, and this is when moth and mildew do their damage.
After wearing a suit, hang it on a broad wooden hanger that fills the shoulders, and leave it outside the cupboard overnight so the moisture from the day can leave. Empty the pockets so they do not stretch. If you were caught in the rain, let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from a heater or direct sun.
Brush the suit with a soft clothes brush along the grain once a week. It lifts dust that would otherwise settle into the weave and attract insects. Avoid dry-cleaning more than once or twice a year; the solvents strip the natural oils in wool. A good steam and press does most of the work.
Inside the cupboard, give suits space so air can move between them. Use cotton covers, never plastic, and put cedar blocks or a muslin pouch of dried neem leaves on the shelf. Leave the cupboard door open for an hour on dry days. If a suit has picked up a smell or a crease that will not drop out, bring it in. Pressing our own pieces is free in the first year.
