Whether you roll or fold your clothes depends on the fabric. Knitwear, T-shirts and polos can be rolled. Shirts, blouses and trousers are better folded flat. Combine both methods and put heavy pieces at the bottom. Crease-prone clothes go on top. Below you can read which method works best for each garment.
Why clothes crease in a suitcase
Creases come mostly from sharp folds and long periods of pressure. In a suitcase, exactly that happens: everything is pressed together for hours, and every time the suitcase is lifted the contents shift. The sharper the fold and the looser the contents, the more creases. So avoid sharp folds and make sure the contents cannot slide.
What you roll
Rolling is ideal for fabrics that are naturally springy. A roll gives less harsh fold lines than flat-folded clothes.
- Knitwear and fine-knit polos. A lyocell polo with a quarter zip, such as the Edmund in light grey melange, is rolled from the bottom, with the sleeves folded inwards. Lyocell drapes softly and recovers quickly.
- Modal polos. The Montgomery in navy is made of modal, polyester and elastane, a combination that hardly creases. Read more about the fabric on our modal page.
- Knitted tops for women. A ribbed polo with a quarter zip such as the Ophelia in white is rolled in the same way: rib springs back into shape once unrolled.
- T-shirts, underwear, socks, nightwear and sportswear.
What you fold
Woven fabrics with a clear shape come out of the suitcase better if you fold them along the lines that are already there.
- Trousers. Lay the trousers flat with the legs on top of each other, exactly on the crease. Fold them in half once, no more. Pleated trousers with a flared leg such as the Daphni in black, with 5% elastane, arrive without extra creases this way.
- Blouses and shirts. Fasten the top, middle and bottom buttons. Lay the blouse face down, fold the sleeves back and fold the bottom up by a third, then once more. A tailored blouse with some stretch, such as the Delphine in white, is forgiving here: 5% elastane helps the fabric spring back.
- Jackets and blazers. Turn one shoulder inside out and tuck the other shoulder into it, so the lining ends up on the outside. Then fold once in half.
The bundle method: for those who want no creases at all
With the bundle method you do not fold clothes separately, but wrap everything around a soft core. This way there is no sharp fold anywhere.
- Make a core from something soft, such as a toiletry bag or a rolled sweater.
- Lay the longest, most crease-prone piece flat in the suitcase first, for example trousers or a jacket, with the ends over the edge.
- Lay the next layer across it: blouses and shirts, then knitwear.
- Place the core in the middle and fold all the ends over the core one by one, in reverse order.
The drawback of the bundle method is that you have to open everything to take out one garment. Ideal for a short trip to a single destination, less handy if you stay in a different hotel every day.
How to organise the suitcase
At the bottom, near the wheels, go shoes in shoe bags and heavy, rolled pieces. On top of those go the rolled knitwear and polos, tightly next to each other so nothing can slide. On top you lay the folded trousers and blouses, as flat as possible. Fill gaps with socks or a scarf. A suitcase that is exactly full creases less than a half-full suitcase where everything moves around.
Choose fabrics that cooperate
The choice of fabric makes at least as much difference as the packing technique. Lyocell, modal, viscose with polyamide, and trousers with a little elastane are travel-friendly. Pure cotton and linen crease the fastest; take those only if you can iron or steam on the spot. A pleated trouser like the Frederick in black, with viscose and elastane in the fabric, is a reliable travel trouser for men.
An example: four days in one carry-on suitcase
For a long weekend you need little if your clothes combine well. Take two pairs of trousers in calm colours, for example black and a warm shade, three tops that suit both, one blouse or shirt for a smarter evening and a thin sweater or cardigan. Roll the three tops and the sweater, fold the trousers and the blouse flat. Wear the coat, your heaviest shoes and your thickest layer during the journey. That leaves room in the suitcase for a second pair of shoes, a toiletry bag and a small bag for the evening.
Keep, for example, medication, chargers, a scarf and an extra layer within reach in your bag. And put on top in the suitcase what you need first on arrival, so you do not have to open everything to find your coat for the evening.
Pack the return journey with care too. Put dirty laundry in a separate fabric bag, so the clean pieces stay fresh, and pack the crease-prone clothes on top again. This way you also arrive home with a suitcase whose contents you can put away straight away.
On arrival
Unpack straight away. Hang blouses, trousers and jackets and leave them for an hour. The weight of the fabric pulls out the light creases. Hang stubborn pieces in the bathroom while you shower. Shake out rolled knitwear and lay it flat in a drawer. For more travel inspiration, take a look at our Airport collection for women or City Life for men.
Shop the look
Edmund: polo with quarter zip in lyocell, light grey melange
Montgomery: modal polo, navy
Ophelia: ribbed polo with quarter zip, white
Daphni: pleated trousers with flared leg, black
Delphine: tailored blouse with princess seams, white
Frederick: trousers with brushed inside, black
Frequently asked questions
Do rolled clothes crease less?
For knitwear, jersey and polos, yes, because a roll does not make a sharp fold. Shirts and trousers are better folded flat along their seams.
Do packing cubes help against creases?
They keep the contents in place, and that helps. Just do not overfill them: compressed clothes will still crease.
How do I get creases out without an iron?
Hang the garment in the bathroom while you shower and then gently pull it into shape. For soft fabrics, an hour of hanging is often enough.
