How Hongkongers Outsmarted Summer’s Assault on Winter Wardrobes

During the city’s colder periods, one needs to wear thick warm clothing, yet what is the best way to preserve these frequently high-end garments when they must be stored over the harsh summer season?

In Hong Kong, clothing designed for cooler weather has traditionally leaned towards timeless designs that wouldn’t become outdated swiftly. Given that just three or four months annually suit moderate climate attire—barely two months being adequate for bulkier pieces like tweed coats—it was anticipated that these winter outfits would endure for several years. Such garments were typically swapped out during infrequent extended trips abroad or whenever someone’s physique altered significantly enough to necessitate modifications.

Hong Kong’s scorching summer months with
prolonged high humidity
For weeks on end, continuous rainfall leads to an increase in silverfish, mites, moths, and various other insects, along with mold, mildew, and moisture issues. These factors can damage most textiles unless stored under specific protective conditions. Given this, what happens to cherished cold-season attire—from one winter to another—especially costly, premium quality outfits meant to last for many years—once they’ve been properly put away?

Prior to the widespread adoption of home air conditioning
Starting from the 1970s, when compact home dehumidifiers became widely available over the following twenty years, effective storage methods were crucial. Across regions like India and Southeast Asia up to China and Australia, robust, hermetically sealed metal trunks emerged as reliable options, maintaining clothing in excellent shape throughout the year. Clothes would be meticulously wiped down (for fabrics not suitable for washing), left out in the sun to air-dry—alternatively professionally cleaned where possible—and subsequently wrapped in fresh paper, interspersed with powdered camphor blocks. Delicate materials such as silk or cashmere often received an extra layer of protection using dried lavender or similar fragrant herbs.

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Once naphthalene and other branded chemical insect repellents hit the market in the 1920s, their more fragrant natural alternatives became obsolete. Despite being highly efficient, these substances leave an indelible odor on fabrics, leathers, and wooden storage spaces like wardrobes and drawers. No matter how thoroughly they’re exposed to direct sunlight, this characteristic musty scent of old mothballs never fades away completely.

In cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and throughout much of tropical Asia, cool-weather clothing was rarely needed. A couple of sweaters or jackets stored away for rare trips to mountain resorts such as Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands—where temperatures could get chilly during early morning and late evening hours—were sufficient. However, in affluent urban centers with noticeable cooler periods lasting several months, such as Kolkata and Hong Kong, many inhabitants possessed multiple high-end seasonal outfits including fur coats that demanded meticulous maintenance through the remainder of the year.

In these settings, a complete mink fur coat, a sable jacket, or a silver fox scarf displayed a mark of personal affluence and, consequently, desired social status, for all the observers out there. Multiple such lavish items, skillfully alternated throughout various gatherings like seasonal dinners, cocktail events, and nightclub soirees, showcased precisely how prosperous that privileged person—or their spouse—truly was.

However, by Easter, these valuable treasures needed to be securely packed away until October returned. Even though metal trunks could be completely sealed, they weren’t appropriate because even the coolest storerooms became too warm for furs during the summer months. Extended periods in cold storage were necessary but costly. Between the ’20s and ’70s, the Dairy Farm Company provided chilled spaces where fur coats would undergo thorough cleaning before being placed into custom-made muslin pouches labeled with their owners’ names, ready for retrieval come fall. Naturally, such services required an exclusive chilly chamber; premium furs didn’t just get tucked between tubs of butter, slabs of mutton, or other perishable goods kept cool.

Starting from the 1970s, international concern over animal rights caused a significant worldwide decrease in the popularity of fur clothing. However, this trend did not apply to Hong Kong, where the richest—or those aspiring to be rich—have consistently shown a preference for such garments.
said it with mink
Consequently, longstanding local fur stores still provide these seasonal cold-storage services to their patrons.

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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.

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