The heaviest tweed might take such abuse. On their rounds, mailmen don't wear blazers. Your bag is ruining your jacket. .

 

Bags with straps don't get along with tailored jackets. The pilling is the least of the dangers that it poses. The shoulder will be crushed under that weight, the collar will be stretched and damaged by the uneven pulling, etc. Time to carry your briefcase/bag in your hand.

 

Thank you.

I don't have option for a briefcase or any extra hand-carried bags. I fly weekly for work and have to optimize on luggage. Perhaps this jacket needs to go back in closet until I can go back to a driving routine.

What can I do to contain the damage caused? It's 2-3 small patches but noticeable.

 

Thank you.

I don't have option for a briefcase or any extra hand-carried bags. I fly weekly for work and have to optimize on luggage. Perhaps this jacket needs to go back in closet until I can go back to a driving routine.

What can I do to contain the damage caused? It's 2-3 small patches but noticeable.

Hello Rick, a shoulder bag is inevitable for some of us fellows. Were I getting my jackets from Gieves and Hawkes then I may worry about somehow damaging the shoulder. I don't so I don't. Clothes, like shoes, are to be used. No one is suggesting that you throw jackets in a puddle and stamp on them but you should feel comfortable going about your daily business. Can I suggest that you consider a better strap for your laptop bag. Is it synthetic, with harsh edges, perhaps? If so you may wish to consider trading up to leather.

 

How often are you wearing the jacket? If you're wearing it many consecutive days, it's not going to last all that long. That could quickly present itself as a problem, too.

 

My view: If you're wearing a jacket you care about, you need to refrain from shoulder straps unless your bag is very light - like a Macbook Air or iPad, 20 sheets of paper, a few business cards, and a pen kind of light. Even then, you have to be mindful. Look at yourself in the mirror with a strap on. Chances are good that your jacket will be pulled all catty-wumpus, with wierd, asymmetric stresses applied to the collar and the shoulder. If you're wearing some 18 oz tweed number, the fabric may be sufficiently robust to shrug it off, but otherwise...

Can you not attach your briefcase to your other luggage in some way? When I travel, I've usually got my (strapless) briefcase rigged to my roll-aboard. That doesn't work for you?

As for the piling, you can shave off the pils. That's not a long-term solution, since the pils are balled-up fibers pulled from the fabric, which is getting abraded/weaker/thinner. But for fixing what has been done, just shave them off.

 

Shaver - I don't know about aforementioned G&H but for a worker drone like myself $800 BB blazer is in that range for me. Yes, the bag is synthetic strap with rough edges (old bag). Most laptop bags (incl fancy leather ones) come with synthetic material as straps for providing extra durability.

Ruby - I AM wearing the jacket consecutive days. Big no-no? I guess, I won't be anymore.

No, I am not going the briefcase route. I can't and I won't even if I could.

 

No, I am not going the briefcase route. I can't and I won't even if I could.

You don't have to, you just need to keep it off your shoulder.

 

You don't have to, you just need to keep it off your shoulder.

Nah. It's too much of inconvenience. I know my needs and apparently tailored jacket doesn't fit in right now.

 

Shaver - I don't know about aforementioned G&H but for a worker drone like myself $800 BB blazer is in that range for me. Yes, the bag is synthetic strap with rough edges (old bag). Most laptop bags (incl fancy leather ones) come with synthetic material as straps for providing extra durability.

Ruby - I AM wearing the jacket consecutive days. Big no-no? I guess, I won't be anymore.

No, I am not going the briefcase route. I can't and I won't even if I could.

Hello Rick, you really need to change that strap then, as priority. Even cotton, which come to think of it my own messenger bag has as it's strap, will be much more forgiving.

As PMRuby has advised you, jackets need a little time to recover from use. At least a day off between wearings.

That which CuffDaddy and Arkirshner say is true but none-the-less some of us are prepared to 'trade-off' between charity and utility.

 

Thanks for your comments Shaver/CD/PMRuby/arkishner. This thread probably saved my jacket.

Unfortunately, I am not in the position with a lot of flexibility on luggage accessories (i know what works best in my situation) or carrying multiple jackets. Perhaps, finer garments are not most suited for week in/out travel schedules. Nothing I can do about it but I am glad that I raised this issue now rather than waiting few more weeks and doing more damage.

I have probably walked total of 5miles wearing the jacket and hauling baggage before the damage appeared. Perhaps I should get cheaper alternatives where I can trade-off between utility and charity at a lower cost?

 

Rick, I think you're learning that modern business travel is really hell on clothes. That's the main take-away here.

Wearing tailored clothing or shoes on consecutive days is not recommended, as Shaver also indicated. Wearing gives clothes the slightest stretch. They will return to their prior state if not worn for too long and given appropriate time to hang and air out. The further they get away from this state, the tougher of a time they'll have getting back to it.

 

To avoid further harming the fabric, get a clothes shaver like this;https://www.drugstore.com/smartek-d...am=_cat:drugstore.com&scinit1=_cat:drugstore.com&adpos=1t5&creative=15311788995
You can find similar shavers all over. Works great on sweaters, etc.

 

Rick, I think you're learning that modern business travel is really hell on clothes. That's the main take-away here.

You said it.

Arkishner - Does the fuzz do any damage if I leave them unshaved for now?

 

Intuitively it would seem that the longer its left alone the more fabric would pull.
That having been said, I have sometimes left my duffle coat go for some time without ruining it.
Still, for $10, why not do it now?

 

Intuitively it would seem that the longer its left alone the more fabric would pull.
That having been said, I have sometimes left my duffle coat go for some time without ruining it.
Still, for $10, why not do it now?

Just a little hesitant of ruining it furthermore with incorrect use of some electric shaver on soft fabric.

 

Just a little hesitant of ruining it furthermore with incorrect use of some electric shaver on soft fabric.

It is not an electric shaver like those used on faces. Slide it gently over the surface. The little balls go up into the opening while the "blades" (one hesitates to even call them thus), come nowhere near the fabric. Try one on an old sweater first and you'll see.