How to Store a Mascot Costume

A mascot costume may be worn for twenty hours a year and stored for the other 8,700. How it is stored determines whether it comes back ready or comes back ruined - and storage mistakes are the quietest way to damage an expensive costume.

Choose the right space

The costume needs a space that is dry, dark, and temperature-stable. Avoid attics and boiler rooms - heat and moisture are the two biggest enemies of mascot materials. A clean closet or storage room with airflow is ideal. Keep the costume away from direct sunlight, which fades fur over time.

Hang or fold correctly

The body should be hung on a sturdy, padded hanger so the shoulders keep their shape. Do not cram it into a tight closet - compressed fur gets crushed and matted. The head should be stored separately, on a head stand or in a padded box, so it keeps its shape and is not crushed by other items.

Control moisture and pests

Make sure the costume is completely dry before storing - even small moisture left in the head interior can cause mildew over a summer. Store with the costume fully dry, in a space with airflow, and check it periodically. Moth and pest prevention matters for fur-based costumes.

Log the storage state

Before storing, note the costume's condition - any repairs made, any areas to watch - and where each piece is stored. When the next season starts, you will know exactly what needs attention and where everything lives.