The way a linen shirt is folded for travel and storage affects the creases that develop, the space it occupies in a case, and the condition it arrives in at the destination. The PP method for folding linen shirts is simple and produces the best result for both packing and storage.

The roll method — for travel. Rolling is superior to folding for travel packing. Lay the PP linen shirt flat on a clean surface, face down. Fold in the sides to the centre — folding each side approximately one third of the way across. Fold up the collar by approximately three centimetres to create a firm edge. Roll firmly from the collar end toward the hem, keeping the roll tight and even. The result is a compact cylinder that creates fewer sharp crease lines than a folded shirt, fits more efficiently in a case, and produces less severe packing creases on arrival. The roll sits most naturally in the bottom of a packing cube or the side of a carry-on.

The fold method — for storage. For drawer or shelf storage rather than travel, folding is more practical than rolling. Lay the shirt flat, face down. Fold the sleeves across the back — each sleeve folded horizontally at the shoulder seam and then back to align with the body width. Fold the shirt in thirds lengthways — left third over the centre, right third over. Then fold in half horizontally — collar to hem. This produces a flat rectangle that stacks cleanly in a drawer or on a shelf.

The key principle for both methods. The fewer sharp creases that are introduced during folding, the fewer visible creases will remain in the shirt on arrival or at the point of wearing. Tissue paper placed inside the shirt during folding creates a soft layer that prevents the fabric from pressing hard against itself — particularly useful for storage of the more precious colourways.

Linen Shirt Wrinkle Guide  ·  How to Pack Linen Shirts for Travel  ·  Men's Linen Collection