This is the most forgiving category on the site for packing and the least forgiving for weather.
The one thing that matters
A sealed plastic bag inside the parcel. Cardboard takes water out of the air and holds it against cloth, and an Indian monsoon finds every parcel. Damp cloth arrives smelling of damp cloth, and that is a return.
The method
- Garment clean, dry and folded along natural folds
- Into a sealed plastic bag or a garment bag
- Into a mailer or box
- Tape the seams
That is genuinely it for most clothing.
What needs more care
Structured jackets and blazers — fold inside out at the shoulders so the lapels are protected, and do not compress the chest. Knitwear — fold, never hang; a hanger mark in a shoulder sets permanently. Anything beaded or embroidered — tissue between the layers so the work cannot catch on the cloth. Suits — box rather than bag, and say they travelled folded.
Creases
A folded garment arrives with fold lines. That is normal and nobody minds — but if a piece is structured or delicate, a line in the parcel saying how it was folded and how to hang it out is a small, cheap courtesy.
Weight
Heavy coats and denim cost more to post than people expect. Weigh before you quote, because the difference comes off your balance. How delivery is charged.
Questions people ask
Can I use a plastic courier bag with no box?
Yes for most clothing, as long as there is a sealed bag inside it.
Should I include a hanger?
No. It adds weight and shape problems and buyers have hangers.
What about shoes?
Shoes go in a box, with the shoe box inside it rather than as the parcel. Packing sneakers.