Why would a top wine consultant be so particular about garment steamers?
When many people first meet me, they usually have a fixed impression:
"You are an expert in high-end wine consulting. You must care most about bars, wine cabinets, and decanters, right?"
And that’s true.
But those who have traveled with me, attended wine fairs with me, or hosted private wine parties with me know that I have another professional habit — I am extremely sensitive to the condition of clothes.
A crumpled suit would immediately ruin the first impression of a five-figure bottle of whisky.
In cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, high-end wines do not succeed on the quality of the wine alone, but on the overall experience. When you stand there, the texture of your shirt, coat, and even the draping of your pants will all be subconsciously taken into account in your judgment.
This is why I’ve spent years studying garment steamers.
Why packaging matters more than you think in the high-end wine industry
I also used a traditional iron in the early days.
But the problem soon became apparent:
- Due to frequent business trips, the hotel iron either leaks water or its temperature control fails.
- Fine-spun wool, the fabric for suits, can become "shiny" if not handled carefully.
- The cost of time is high. Before a cocktail party, there is no time for repeated trial and error.
Later, I began to use the garment steamer systematically.
Not because it is "convenient", but because it better reflects real professional scenarios.
The real professional value of a garment steamer
1. It is not "ironing", but rather "restoring texture"
Many people think that the goal of ironing clothes is merely to "remove wrinkles".
However, in the high-end wine industry, what we pursue is the original state of the clothes.
The function of steam is not to flatten the fibers, but to allow the fibers to relax and rebound.
In particular:
- Wool suit
- Linen shirt
- Blended cotton-polyester pants
This type of fabric, after being treated with a garment steamer, will retain its natural drape, rather than the "rigid but cheap" flatness.
This is the fundamental reason why I rarely use traditional irons nowadays.
2. In the case of business trips, the garment steamer was almost the only reliable option
I spend at least one third of the year on the road.
The moment the suitcase is opened, hardly any of the clothes are perfect.
And the advantages of the garment steamer are:
- No need for an ironing board
- Has extremely low requirements for the environment
- Plug-and-play, and you can get up and running in just a few minutes
Sometimes at the exhibition hotel in Las Vegas, I would even complete the entire styling process right in the bathroom.
This is not a basic life skill, but rather a professional survival ability.
3. The control over details determines the upper limit of professionalism
I have come across too many excellent wines, but their poor external presentation has held them back.
For example:
- There are indentations on the collar of the shirt.
- The lapel of the suit has collapsed.
- There are unnatural creases on the cuffs.
These problems can all be effectively solved using a garment steamer, and no "human intervention" traces will be left.
When the steaming is done properly, you wouldn't even notice that you had ironed it.
How can I determine whether a garment steamer is "professionally usable"?
Over the years, I have used many different models and have encountered some problems.
Now when judging a steam engine, I only look at a few key points:
Whether the steam is stable, rather than "violent"
Many products claim to have a large steam output, but the actual experience is intermittent.
This is extremely detrimental when it comes to delicate fabrics.
A truly effective garment steamer has continuous, uniform, and controllable steam.
Is the heating time truly reliable?
If a machine has to wait repeatedly, it has little value in real life.
The maximum time I can tolerate is:
Plugging in and being ready within no more than 30 seconds.
Does the water tank design conform to actual usage?
I don't need an overly large water tank,
but it must be easy to fill, leak-proof, and not hot to the touch.
In this regard, later in the user experience design of Nesugar-related products, I noticed some details that made me nod in agreement — not "just for the sake of looking good", but truly considering from the perspective of the users.
I am very sensitive to such details because they are in line with the logic of wine set design.
The garment steamer is not merely a clothing tool
It is an integral part of "professional image management".
Many people treat the organization of clothes as a trivial matter of daily life.
But in my opinion, it is as important as whether the wine glasses are clean or the wine labels are facing the right direction.
You can't expect a customer to take a bottle of wine seriously,
if you yourself aren't even prepared.
A True Story: A Shirt Changed the Pace of a Negotiation
A few years ago, before a private wine party in San Francisco, I was unexpectedly assigned to have a one-on-one conversation with an important buyer.
That day, as soon as I got off the plane, my shirt was wrinkled beyond recognition due to being compressed in the luggage.
The hotel's iron was broken.
Fortunately, I had my garment steamer with me.
After getting dressed, standing in front of the mirror, I was very clear about my state at that moment:
Not "dignified", but relaxed yet powerful.
That exchange went extremely smoothly.
Later, the other person privately told me something, and I still remember it to this day:
"You give the impression of being very professional, but not overly tense."
That feeling is often not achieved through words, but through details.
If you also care about appearance, then you should re-examine the garment steamer.
No matter whether you are:
- Professional individuals who frequently travel on business trips
- The role of being a consultant who needs to interact with clients
- Or, simply those who have certain requirements for the quality of life
You will eventually realize that,
a garment steamer is not "a replacement for an iron",
but a tool of a completely different dimension.
The last personal reflection
I have always believed that truly excellent life tools share one common feature:
They don't steal the spotlight, but they will silently boost your confidence.
Just like a well-fitting wine glass,
like a suit that is properly tailored,
and like a genuine garment steamer that truly understands its user.
Only when the tools are reliable enough can you focus your attention on the truly important matters.
If you are re-examining your daily habits,
why not start with the small matter of organizing your clothes?
Some changes may seem insignificant,
but they often determine how others perceive you when you enter a room.
——
A highly respected wine consultant traveling frequently between wine events and major cities.
