PU LEATHER LAB / GUIDE 04

Store it beautifully

Separate, support and ventilate. Let your costume rest between scenes.

AFTER EVERY SCENE01 Undress and inspect02 Let surface moisture dry03 Separate colours and glossy faces04 Store cool, shaded and ventilated
Avoid sharp folds, tension and damp sealed storage. Inspect stored pieces periodically.

Before it goes away

Remove the costume gently, check for marks and let any surface moisture dry fully in the shade. Do not seal a recently cleaned piece into a bag. Inspect the body too; early colour transfer is easier to notice before another outfit covers it.

Build a gentle storage routine

  1. Separate the piecesKeep dark colours away from pale garments and bodies. Avoid pressing glossy faces together. Use a clean, undyed, compatible separator that does not leave fibres or stick to the finish.
  2. Support the shapeLay small pieces without sharp folds. Avoid hanging a heavy outfit from narrow straps or stretching a fitted corset over a body for long-term storage.
  3. Choose the locationUse a cool, shaded place away from radiators, hot cars, direct sunlight and damp cupboards. Leave room around garments rather than compressing them.
  4. Check periodicallyInspect for moisture, odour, tackiness or transfer, and replace any unsuitable separator. A desiccant is useful only when managed according to its own instructions; keep it off the garment.

Why not permanent plastic wrap?

Wrap can be a temporary dressing aid in a tested setup, but it is not a universal storage solution. It may hold moisture, leave pressure marks or adhere to a deteriorating finish. Use the body and garment maker’s guidance rather than leaving an outfit wrapped and forgotten.

Watch the related film

A basic maintenance routine

Chapter 1 · English

IRIS explores everyday maintenance and preventing avoidable deterioration.

Watch on YouTube ↗
Sources & readingITOKIN — material ageing and environmental factorsIRIS channel — maintenance basics

Illustrations: IRIS12DDA editorial diagrams. General care guidance is not a laboratory test of an individual costume or body. Some reference pages are in Japanese.