How to Keep Your Barong

 Caring for the barong matters even when you are not currently wearing it -this means knowing how to put a barong in storage.

First basic rule applies to all clothes: make sure its dry before keeping it. The last thing you will want is stray bits of moisture causing problems when kept in the dark. So make sure that your barong has well and fully dried before putting it in the closet.

Next: rounded-ends matter! For hangers that is. The good news is that most hangers in general have rounded ends a most clothes benefit from it. Also, never use clothespins or similar clamping devices. This means that a good hanger would not only have rounded-ends, but are also just the right length to support the barong without overstretching it (especially when in the process of removing the hanger).

If you are living in a part of the world where winter is a thing (the barong’s place of origin, the Philippines, is subject only to dry or rainy climates -so the barong is traditionally kept as-is in the closet), then a plastic suit cover should be a consideration. Either way, make sure the barong has ample space where it is not cramped by other clothes in order to preserve its form.

Of course, “keeping” does not always mean a closet. For those of you doing a bit of travelling to an event, you may have to pack the barong as well. The easiest thing would be to keep the barong on a hanger and in a suit protector (if travelling by plane, remember that some airlines have closets for passengers -mostly on business or first class). But if you really need to “pack it in” and your suitcase has no provisions for hanging clothes as some do, then fold the Barong as you would with a dress shirt. If you have no access to an iron at the destination, use an iron when you do the folding to help create straight even creases. On the other hand, if your destination has some provisions for you to do some quick ironing, simply flatten out any travel-caused wrinkles following the ironing tips mentioned above.