TST. Robert Irwin Wears Dad Steve’s Shirt Before ‘Every’ DWTS Show for ‘Good Luck’: ‘Feels Like a Big Hug’

The wildlife conservationist revealed the two “good luck charms” he puts on every Tuesday before showtime in honor of his family’s legacy

Robert Irwin is representing his father’s legacy before every performance on Dancing with the Stars.

The wildlife conservationist, 21, revealed in a heartfelt Instagram clip on Monday, Nov. 17, that after wearing his late father Steve Irwin‘s shirt ahead of his debut on the ABC series in September, he’s done the same for every rehearsal since.

“Every show day on Dancing with the Stars, I have two good luck charms that I bring with me. And I wanted to share it with you,” Robert said, revealing that the two rituals are a way to keep him “close to home and what’s most important to me.”

While one of Robert’s “good luck charms” involves wearing a ring that represents his childhood home and family, the other charm is his dad’s old shirt — which features holes and tears, many of which Robert has gotten repaired.

The late Crocodile Hunter died in a 2006 underwater accident at age 44, when Robert was just 2 years old.

“This is my dad’s shirt. I was going through his stuff and I found this shirt. It’s absolutely tattered and had holes and all sorts in it, missing buttons. So I went and got it all fixed up. New buttons attached. Everything all patched back up again and all the holes repaired. Kind of got it back up to scratch. And I like that it still looks and feels like him,” Robert said.

He added, “Each one of the tears and holes and missing buttons tells another story. And this shirt definitely saw a lot. I guess it’s a good example for how dad lived his life: At 100%.”

As Robert explained, he puts the shirt on before he arrives at the DWTS studio every Tuesday, wearing it during his “first rehearsals” of the night with dance partner Witney Carson.

“Before you guys see my dance in costume, I’ve always done that dance — at least once — in dad’s shirt. It just keeps me close to home, keeps me close to him,” he said. “It just feels like a big hug every time I put it on.”

He added, “Every time I step out into the ballroom, I represent my message, my dad’s legacy, my home, my family. It is such an honor to get to do that.”

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In a separate video, Robert revealed the second of his “good luck” charms: A ring made of repurposed keys from his original childhood home.

Robert first discovered the keys while cleaning up his dad’s office, then had them turned into a ring with the engraving “1638” — which represents the address for the Australia Zoo, 1638 Steve Irwin Way.

“I put it on every Tuesday morning when I go in for the Dancing with the Stars live taping, it’s the most beautiful experience. And in some way, I want him part of it,” Robert said. “Because this experience has truly changed my life.”

“And I know I wouldn’t be here without him and his legacy that I get to continue,” he continued.

Robert’s mom, Terri Irwin, previously shared ahead of his week 1 performance that Robert wore his dad’s old shirt in preparation for the big day. “I love that you are wearing your dad’s shirt,” she commented under an Instagram snap of her son with loved ones.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the time, Robert said his dad is “still part of every day,” noting that he gets “a little part of him back in some way, in every conversation I have about him, or any new story I hear about him, or in any new photo that I haven’t seen before.”

“I’ll often come across archive footage that I haven’t seen before,” Robert added. “And all of a sudden, his memory just starts flooding back. So it’s weird that decades later, after losing someone when I was 2 years old, I almost have an even greater picture of the person he was.”