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Need a Brush for My Suits

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MurrayHillButMoving2Wburg

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Looking to get a clothes brush for my suit jackets. Maybe it's because I've been watching more Downton Abbey. Maybe it's because I've had some suits fora while now and notice they are developing a bit of a nape. Anyway, never bought a brush before and not sure what the deal is. Any recommendations? Budget isn't a problem - just want something good that will last (and ideally look smart too).
 
#4 · (Edited)
MurrayHillButMoving2Wburg said:
Looking to get a clothes brush for my suit jackets. Maybe it's because I've been watching more Downtown Abbey. Maybe it's because I've had some suits fora while now and notice they are developing a bit of a nape. Anyway, never bought a brush before and not sure what the deal is. Any recommendations? Budget isn't a problem - just want something good that will last (and ideally look smart too).
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I have a few brushes, by far my favourite is the one I bought from the Armoury in Hong Kong. It's the Armoury brand (made by Abbeyhorn), with horsehair and horn backing. You're based in New York, where the Armoury have their second shop. If budget isn't a problem (You're looking at around US$100 if I remember), these are well made and look very smart. (They are stamped with the Armoury logo though, which I could do without, or in a less obvious position, but this isn't something I wear so a logo isn't a major issue.) You could also just order a clothes brush from Abbeyhorn direct, they have one at about half that cost (not factoring in postage) but it's hog bristles and not horsehair.

Edit: Sorry, pet peeve of mine, I have to say something... "DownTON" not "DownTOWN".... :fish:
 
#6 ·
Shaver said:
^ To my mind hog bristle is preferable for the purposes of brushing clothes - horse is too soft.
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It definitely is too soft for certain things. But I like to take the softly-softly approach of a horsehair brush first, and then only for a tough mark do I resort to hog bristle. This is just for worsted suits or delicate materials. It's hog bristle for heavy overcoats and the likes. I think I'd be lost without my horsehair clothes brush.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Shaver said:
^Perhaps one could start with goat, working up to horse, then (if all else fails) break out the hog. :crazy:
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I like that line. "Break out the hog"! Sounds like something from Pulp Fiction.

I didn't even know about goat hair clothes brushes until you brought it up just now. I thought they were only for make-up. But then a Google search showed that BB stocks one, however they do suggest to use it for hats and cashmere items. Now I feel like I need a goats hair clothes brush (to fully satisfy my CDO side...).
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
This is awesome, thanks guys. I think I'll check out one of the horsehair brushes from Abbeyhorn. I don't have a ton (or, well...any) experience but I imagine horsehair would be the right entry-level brush. Hog I think would be a little too rough, especially since some of my garments I'm most worried about are my cashmere vests.

That said, I'm always happy to break out the hog.

(And my bad, I fixed the Downton typo...I do appreciate the difference).
 
#10 ·
Good thread Gentlemen.

I have an old Fuller that was handed down to me by my Father, and I have a few Kent brushes. I will check out Abbeyhorn as well thanks to this thread.

Love the "Pulp Fiction" reference. Perhaps I'll name one of my brushes "The Gimp" and can ask my girlfriend to "Bring out the Gimp" when I need to do some "Brushing".
 
#12 ·
I bought a cheap brush from Hong Kong off of eBay. It works perfectly on my pants, suits, coats, and sweaters. I think horsehair is versatile enough to work on most garments without fear of damaging the fabric, and I have never had a problem clearing away debris with it.
 
#14 ·
Shaver said:
My Abbeyhorn brush... *sighs softly in delight*

Image
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:eek2::eek2::cold::cold::crazy::crazy:

Aaaaaaaaahhh....! Your brush is crying out in pain. Turn it around. Turn it around! The poor hogs bristle is being crushed under the overpowering weight of beech wood and oxhorn!

This is why I won't buy a double-sided brush.

Gorgeous brush though. I just love horn. When I upgraded from an Ikea shoehorn to a horn shoehorn my life improved immeasurably. Even my food tasted better as a result.
 
#15 ·
^ Agreed and as I stated when originally posting this image some time ago

"NB: never, ever, store your brush on its bristles. I did this but momentarily for the purpose of the photos"
 
#17 ·
Another vote for the Kent double-sided from eBay. On another note, regarding the suggestion of horsehair for clothes (which I also believe is too soft), wouldn't an inexpensive shoe brush be sufficient? Not that the Abbeyhorn brushes aren't beautiful but a $10 shoe brush from AE would probably do the trick if you need something that delicate.
 
#19 · (Edited)
hardline_42 said:
Another vote for the Kent double-sided from eBay. On another note, regarding the suggestion of horsehair for clothes (which I also believe is too soft), wouldn't an inexpensive shoe brush be sufficient? Not that the Abbeyhorn brushes aren't beautiful but a $10 shoe brush from AE would probably do the trick if you need something that delicate.
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A shoe brush might be sufficient... if you are brushing your leather jacket. For all other purposes get a clothes brush, which uses softer horsehair than what is generally found on a shoe brush. I wouldn't use a shoe brush on clothes anymore than I imagine my missus would use a goats hair clothes brush to apply makeup.
 
#20 ·
wOOAAAAHHH. Was just on the Hanger Project checking out some stuff and thought I'd look at their clothes brushes while I was at it, given this recent thread. Their brushes start at US$245 and go up to US$395... It's possible after buying a full range of brushes, that you can't afford anything to actually brush.

Interestingly, and this might support Shaver's view that hog's bristle is preferable, but not a single one uses horse hair. The cashmere brush, suede brush, wool brush and tweed(!) brush all use pigs bristles.
 
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