Travel Steamer, and My Illustration Life
I'm Lena Hart, a freelance illustrator. I don't have a fixed workplace. Sometimes I work in my home studio, sometimes in a café, and sometimes I simply take my computer and drawing board to another city for a few days. Others think I'm "traveling," but for me, it's just about changing the place where I work.
The work pace of an illustrator can be both relaxed and intense. A client's revision request might come in at midnight or pop up just as I'm about to leave for an exhibition. Also, since I often have to attend art exhibitions, signing events, and workshops, I always have to pack my bags quickly, taking along my camera, drawing board, computer, and of course, clothes and props.
If it's just a regular daily trip, I'm not so particular about my luggage. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans is fine. But when attending events, I can't dress too casually — not only should it be appropriate for the occasion, but also make me look energetic, clean, and presentable. The problem is that even if I fold my clothes neatly before putting them in the suitcase, when I open it at the destination, about 80% of them are wrinkled, especially shirts and thin jackets, which look particularly shabby.
I have used hotel irons before, but to be honest —
First, the irons in each hotel are different. Some are heavy, some don't get hot enough, and some leave strange water stains on clothes.
Second, in some places there are no irons at all, or they come with an extra charge.
Third, I already carry a lot of equipment and really don't want to stuff a heavy traditional iron into my bag.
It wasn't until one day when I borrowed my friend's portable travel steamer at her studio that I discovered such a lightweight device existed. It was the first time I saw Nesugar's portable travel steamer. It was much smaller than I had imagined and had a very clean color. My friend handed it to me and said, "Try it. It's really fast." I hung up a wrinkled white shirt and turned on the switch. Once the water in the tank heated up, it was like giving the clothes a "steam spa" — the hot mist was very fine, and the spots it passed over instantly became smooth. The fabric didn't get pressed stiff either. That smooth and soft feeling was as if the clothes had come back to life all at once.
Why the travel steamer has become my regular gear
After that, I got myself a travel steamer. Now it's almost standard equipment for my business trips and travels, especially when I attend exhibitions. My exhibition outfits are usually long shirt dresses or slightly draping blazers, and these types of clothes get very wrinkled in the suitcase. If not dealt with in time, I'll look very lackluster.
Once at an illustration fair in Tokyo, I woke up a bit late in the morning and hurriedly put on my clothes, only to find that the sleeves were all wrinkled. Fortunately, I had brought my Nesugar travel steamer. I plugged it in and in less than three minutes, the sleeves were completely smooth. That day, several visitors complimented me on "looking very energetic." In fact, they didn't know that half of this fresh look came from the neatness of my clothes.
And for someone like me who often works on drafts until late at night, the lighter the luggage, the better. This steamer is not heavy and doesn't add much burden when stuffed into a backpack. Although its water tank isn't large, one refill is enough to steam a whole outfit. I even used it to steam the backdrop of a fabric curtain at an exhibition, and the result was much better than that of a hotel iron.
In the daily life of an illustrator, its presence is quite significant
Despite being a freelancer, I actually have high demands for the items I use daily. For instance, my brushes need to be comfortable to hold, my computer needs to run smoothly, and my drawing board needs to be precise. Only in this way can I save working time and focus my energy on creation. Similarly, tools like the travel steamer are also part of my life.
At home, I also use it to prep clothes for photoshoots. As an illustrator, I sometimes take themed photos for my works, which require costumes and sets. Before shooting, I will quickly steam the clothes and the background cloth to make them smooth. This way, the quality of the pictures turns out much better.
I particularly enjoy watching the steam rise from the fabric. It gives me a sense of satisfaction, as if I'm restoring them. Unlike an iron, which requires repeatedly pressing on the clothes, all I need to do is gently hold the steamer and pass it over, and the wrinkles gradually disappear. This gentle method also makes me more confident to use it on delicate materials like silk shirts and chiffon dresses.
Places I've taken it
My travel steamer has accompanied me to many places —
At the art exhibition in Shanghai: The hotel iron was too old, so I used it to steam my dress for that day.
The creative camp in Chiang Mai: The air is hot and humid, and clothes tend to wrinkle easily when hung out to dry. It helps me stay fresh every day.
The signing event in Paris: Because of the long trip, my clothes were badly crushed. Fortunately, I had it, otherwise I might have appeared all wrinkled in the photos.
Tokyo Illustration Market: Steaming clothes in the tiny backstage area next to the booth in just three minutes.
Every time I pack my luggage, I always put it in an easily accessible place because I know that once I open the suitcase, those wrinkles will definitely show up, and it’s the quickest solution.
The Small Joys in Life
In fact, the existence of this travel steamer has given me a rather unique sense of "control." In the life of a freelancer, there are many unpredictable things — the demands of clients, changes in projects, sudden inspirations, and even the influence of the weather. But at least, I can control my appearance and overall vibe.
Sometimes I've been drawing all day and am too exhausted to move, but I have to meet up with friends in the evening. I'll use it to steam my clothes first, even if it's just a simple T-shirt and jeans. After steaming, I look much more energetic. These subtle changes make me feel that life still has order and texture.
In Conclusion
As an illustrator, my work demands creativity and expression, but these little tools in life also influence my mindset toward work. Nesugar's travel steamer is one such item — it may not be flashy, but it adds a touch of composure and confidence to every trip and event I attend.
As I watched the crowds at the exhibition in another city, some smiled at me and some talked to me about their works. I knew that a neat outfit was just the first step, and that true confidence, which radiated from within, was the real key. However, this confidence also owed a little to a small hand-held steamer.
