Short answer: the best vest for travel is a knit, not a woven or quilted one. A knit does not hold a crease the way a cotton shirt or a puffer does, so it comes out of a carry-on looking the way it went in. Ours is the Alpaca Rittervest: a felted alpaca and merino knit with a plain zip front, $349.

I own Ritter, and the question I get from people who travel for work is always the same: what do I wear on top that goes from a cold plane to a client dinner without a steamer? Here is how I would pack it, whoever you buy from.

Why most travel layers come out wrinkled

Woven cloth creases because the threads sit in a grid and fold along it. Quilted vests crease because the stitching pins the filling in place and the panels crush into each other. A felted knit has no grid to fold along. The fibres are pressed together, so the fabric gives when you fold it and relaxes when you hang it up.

Five things to check in a one-bag vest

• A knit or felted surface. This is the single biggest factor in whether it arrives flat.
• No stiff structure. Padded panels, wired collars and structured shoulders all fold into permanent lines.
• A full-length zip that lies flat. A zip that ripples when packed will ripple when worn.
• Pockets that do not bulge. Hip pockets that sit inside the knit take a passport and a phone without changing the shape of the vest.
• A colour that works with everything you packed. One vest has to cover the plane, the meeting and the dinner. Charcoal and Granite do that; so does Cocoa if your trousers are navy or brown.

How I would pack it

Wear it on the plane. Cabins run cold, and it keeps your core warm without adding sleeves that need a place to go. When you land, hang it overnight in the hotel wardrobe or on the back of a chair, and the fabric settles on its own. If you are packing it instead, fold it once along the zip and lay it flat on top of the shirts, not under the shoes.

What is in ours

The Alpaca Rittervest is 34% alpaca, 33% merino and 33% nylon, made in small batches in Peru. It has a plain full-zip front, two hidden zip pockets at the hip and no logo on the chest. It comes in eight colours in sizes S to XXXL. Shipping is free in the US, returns are free for 30 days and size exchanges are free for 30 days.

Questions I get asked

Will it wrinkle in a carry-on? A knit is far less likely to hold a crease than woven cloth or a quilted vest. If it comes out with a fold, hanging it overnight is normally enough.

Is it too warm for a plane or a hotel? It is a vest, so your arms stay free and you can take it off in one move. Alpaca is a warm fibre, so it suits cold cabins and cool evenings rather than a hot day.

Can I wear it under a blazer? Yes. It sits flat at the shoulder; I wrote up what works under a blazer.

Is there any branding on the outside? No. See what to look for in a quiet luxury vest.

Is it a good gift for someone who travels? It is one of the ones I would pick. Gifts for the dad who wears vests covers sizing and what to check.

If you want the one I make, the Alpaca Rittervest is the plain one, and I answer the emails myself.