Top 6: pack smart with our top six travel fabrics

If you’re a seasoned traveller, you’ll already know about packing light. However, what you might not realise is that certain fabrics are easier to wash as well as being more wrinkle-resistant, making them far more suited to travel.

Here are our top six fabrics to pack for an easy-care trip:

Known for being incredibly soft and fine, merino wool also adapts to your body’s temperature. Thanks to hundreds of tiny air pockets, it keeps you warm when you’re cold, and cool when you’re warm, so it’s fantastically versatile, whatever your destination. What’s more, it’s lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, putting it firmly in our top six fabrics to pack.

Dry-clean, hand-wash in cold water with wool detergent or use a Wool programme.

Luxuriously soft, cashmere is wonderfully comfortable, making it the perfect travel companion. The other brilliant thing about it? It hardly wrinkles, and – if it does – hanging the garment up or laying it out flat will soon minimise any annoying creases.

Top tip: to prevent wrinkling, place your clothing in a dry-cleaning bag before you fold and pack it.

Nylon and polyester might not scream ‘breathability’, but what they lack on this front they make up for in practicality. Wrinkle-free, they’re also quick drying, so if you need to hand-wash your clothing while away, they’re ready to wear or pack the next day.

Top tip: be super-efficient and have a different look every day by packing three tops to every bottom – tops take up less space in your case.

Jersey knit clothing is a fantastic choice for travel because it’s easy to wash and wrinkles fall out with body heat. As well as wool, cotton, synthetics and silk can all be used to produce jersey garments.

Top tip: prevent delicate clothes from wrinkling by wrapping them around more cushioned clothing, like jumpers.

Neoprene isn’t just used for scuba and swimwear; these days you can find tops and bottoms made from it, too. And it goes without saying that neoprene is wrinkle-free and quick drying.

Top tip: try rolling clothing, rather than folding, to prevent creases.

Denim might be heavy, but it’s fantastic for travel because it’s hardwearing, requires less washing and doesn’t really wrinkle. And if it does get creased? Blast it with a hairdryer and watch as the wrinkles disappear.

Top tip: stretch denim is generally a more lightweight option – but if you wear your denim while in transit, you won’t need to squeeze it into your case.