| Why Preserve Your Bridal Gown? | | | | garments when possible. However, because of the |
| You spent a great deal of time and thought selecting | | | | size and dimensions of wedding gowns, it is impractical. |
| your wedding dress. You may hope that a younger | | | | Some compromise must be made, either by folding or |
| sister or perhaps even a daughter will someday wear | | | | hanging the gown. To help prevent permanent |
| your gown. Or you may want to hold onto your | | | | creasing, boxed gowns should be refolded into a |
| beautiful gown for sentimental reasons. Either way, | | | | different position every 2 - 3 years. (Cotton gloves |
| your wedding gown is a treasured keepsake that if | | | | should always be worn when handling preserved |
| properly cleaned and preserved, can last for years to | | | | gowns.) Bagged gowns that are hung in a closet are |
| come. | | | | not at risk for permanent creasing, and will not need to |
| After the wedding, many bridal gowns are left in the | | | | be handled periodically. |
| plastic garment bag with good intentions of cleaning | | | | Mildew and moldKeeping your gown in a breathable |
| and preservation sometime soon. That soon often | | | | environment will protect it best from mildew and mold |
| turns into weeks, and then years. This procrastination | | | | growth. When fabrics can breathe, the humidity level |
| poses some serious risks to the gown: | | | | remains constant around the garment as excess |
| - Oxidation of stains, seen and unseen. Your dress | | | | moisture dissipates into the air. But, if moisture can |
| may have noticeable stains from food or make-up, or | | | | condense inside a box or any container, then the gown |
| the hemline may be soiled. Or your dress may look | | | | is at risk for mildew and mold growth. |
| clean to you, but don't be fooled, spills from alcoholic | | | | Oxidation spots |
| beverages or clear soda may dry clear, but oxidize | | | | An oxidation spot can occur when a substance that |
| with time, turn brown and become more difficult to | | | | was not properly cleaned on the dress oxidizes and |
| remove later. Body perspiration may cause the dress | | | | turns brown. This can happen even if your dress has |
| lining to turn brittle over time. Your dress needs to be | | | | been cleaned as dry-cleaning solvents do not remove |
| cleaned in order to keep it in the best condition | | | | all substances. Spills from clear soda or wine may go |
| possible. | | | | unnoticed at the time of the initial cleaning. Unless these |
| - Plastic fumes: Gowns kept in plastic gown bags are | | | | spills are pretreated, it is likely they will oxidize over |
| exposed to the most harmful environment possible: | | | | time. Inspecting preserved gowns periodically ensures |
| plastic fumes. Most plastic gives off chemical fumes | | | | the gown remains in the best condition. The sooner an |
| that cause the yellowing of bridal gowns. Some brides | | | | oxidized stain is caught, the more likely it will be able to |
| take the initiative to get their dress cleaned, but still | | | | be removed. |
| leave their gown in the dry-cleaner's plastic wrap or | | | | Light and dust |
| garment bag. | | | | Keeping your gown covered will protect it from the |
| Cleaning and preserving your bridal gown as soon as | | | | damage caused by light and dust. |
| possible ensures that your gown remains in the best | | | | Preservation Options |
| condition possible. Ideally, your dress should be cleaned | | | | There are several different types of gown |
| and preserved within days or weeks of your wedding. | | | | preservation offered today. While there are slight |
| Determining the Best Gown Preservation | | | | variations offered, each will usually fall into one of |
| A good way to determine the best bridal gown | | | | these three categories: |
| preservation technique would be to check with | | | | - Sealing |
| museum textile conservators to see how they | | | | - Boxing |
| preserve heirloom garments. | | | | - Bagging |
| Museum Garment Preservation | | | | Sealing, Boxing or Bagging your Bridal Gown |
| The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a | | | | SealingMost bridal gown preservation companies |
| wonderful collection of gowns that are hundreds of | | | | preserve bridal gowns in an acid-free box. Many have |
| years old. The dresses in storage are hung on padded | | | | a window in which to see the gown. Acid-free tissue is |
| hangers and covered with cotton sheeting to protect | | | | usually used to buffer the folds and a cardboard |
| them. | | | | shape is often used to fill the bodice area of the gown. |
| Garment preservation at the Smithsonian Institute in | | | | However, some companies actually seal the gown |
| Washington D.C. is similar. Heirloom garments that are | | | | inside the box. |
| not currently on display are cleaned and carefully | | | | The assumption with sealing the bridal gown is that the |
| stored in climate controlled conditions. Many dresses | | | | dress needs to be protected from oxygen. However, |
| are hung on padded hangers, while some garments | | | | sealing a bridal gown puts it at greater risk for mildew |
| are laid in drawers or acid free boxes with acid free | | | | and permanent creasing damage. Inspection is also |
| tissue. Sharp creases are avoided, as they can | | | | impossible if the gown is sealed. |
| damage fabric. To keep the folds from becoming | | | | BoxingBoxed preservation is similar to the sealing |
| permanent creases, the garments stored in boxes or | | | | method but has some important differences. Like the |
| drawers are refolded into a different position every | | | | sealing method, your dress is first cleaned and |
| few years. | | | | pressed, and then folded into an acid-free box. Sharp |
| Neither of these museums seals any of their heirloom | | | | creases are avoided, and acid free tissue is used to |
| garments. Museum conservators discourage sealing | | | | buffer the folds. However, unlike the sealing method, |
| any garment in any container for three reasons: | | | | the box is not sealed, and you are encouraged to |
| | | | open and inspect your gown. |
| 1. Fabric weakens where it is folded. Fabric weakens in | | | | Because the box is not sealed, the fabric can still |
| the same way that paper weakens where it is folded, | | | | breathe. And you will be able to refold your gown |
| so that creases from the folds may become | | | | periodically. This will help protect your gown from |
| permanent. (You may have experienced this if you | | | | getting permanent creases. |
| have ever let down the hem on a garment.) Or worse, | | | | The appeal for a boxed or sealed gown is often |
| the fabric may tear at the weakened creases. This is | | | | greatest for brides with large dresses hoping to get |
| why the Smithsonian refolds the garments stored in | | | | their gowns out of their closet. However, this method |
| drawers and boxes periodically. | | | | may work best for smaller gowns that require minimal |
| 2. Inspection is critical. Periodic inspection ensures that | | | | folding. |
| the garment does not develop permanent damage | | | | Acid-free box or just acid-free coated?The quality of |
| from oxidizing stains or any other problems. The | | | | the acid-free boxes can vary significantly. Many |
| sooner problems are discovered, the more likely they | | | | preservation boxes are simply regular cardboard |
| can be remedied. | | | | boxes with an acid free coating. These coatings will |
| 3. Sealing promotes mold and mildew. If the textile can | | | | not hold up as well as authentic archival boxes made |
| breathe, then the humidity remains constant around the | | | | from actual acid-free board. |
| garment. If any moisture were to condense inside a | | | | Bagging your bridal gown |
| storage container, it would likely develop mildew. | | | | This newer preservation method is not really so new. It |
| Museum conservators recommend keeping heirloom | | | | is similar to what museums have used for preserving |
| garments: clean, cool, dry and wrinkle-free. | | | | heirloom costumes and gowns for years. Often |
| Bridal Gown Preservation | | | | referred to as Museum Method,TM this preservation |
| The first step to wedding gown preservation is to | | | | method is an excellent option, as it keeps the dress |
| have it cleaned thoroughly. Keeping your gown in the | | | | protected from dust and light. The gown remains |
| best possible condition is your next goal. You will need | | | | un-folded, so permanent creasing risks are reduced. |
| to protect it from: | | | | The bag allows the gown to breathe, which is essential |
| - Yellowing | | | | in protecting the gown from mold and mildew. A |
| - Permanent creasing | | | | bagged gown is the easiest to inspect periodically and |
| - Mildew and mold | | | | requires no re-folding as the boxed method does. |
| - Oxidation spots | | | | Strapless and spaghetti strapped gowns, as well as |
| - Light | | | | heavy gowns should be reinforced with twill tape to |
| - Dust | | | | add support, and eliminate any damage from long-term |
| YellowingIt's important to note that one of the leading | | | | hanging. A padded hanger is also essential for |
| causes of bridal gown yellowing is the plastic bags that | | | | long-term storage. |
| many brides keep their gowns in. Most plastics give off | | | | It is important to remember that a clean dress should |
| damaging fumes that actually promote yellowing. But, | | | | not be left in the dry-cleaner's plastic wrap or put back |
| even with proper care, some fabrics will yellow more | | | | into a plastic garment bag. Remember, most plastics |
| than others and it may be impossible to prevent all | | | | are an enemy to textiles. And the bagged gown |
| yellowing. | | | | should always be kept in climate controlled conditions. |
| Generally, silk fabric yellows more than synthetic | | | | This is easily done is most closets. |
| fabrics, such as polyester, rayon and acetate. | | | | Gown Preservation Options Overview |
| However, nylon, which is a synthetic, has a tendency | | | | Sealing Benefits |
| to yellow more than other synthetic fabrics. Gowns | | | | Boxing Benefits |
| that can be wet cleaned have an advantage, in that if | | | | Bagging Benefits |
| they do yellow, they may be able to be whitened for | | | | - Acid-free environment |
| future use with a fabric whitener. | | | | - Acid-free environment |
| Preserving your gown in an acid-free environment is | | | | - Acid-free environment |
| your best protection against yellowing. Padding your | | | | - Easily stored |
| gown with acid-free tissue will help to prevent acid | | | | - Easily stored |
| migration. Buffered tissue should be used for gowns | | | | - Easily stored |
| made of synthetic fabrics such as polyester, rayon, | | | | - Protected from dust and light |
| and acetate. The buffering agents in the buffered | | | | - Protected from dust and light |
| tissue gives added protection against acid migration. | | | | - Protected from dust and light |
| But buffering agents may damage gowns made of | | | | - Can be inspected and admired |
| animal proteins such as silk or wool, therefore | | | | - Most easily inspected and admired |
| un-buffered, acid-free tissue is recommended for silk | | | | - Dress can breathe |
| fabrics. | | | | - Dress can breathe |
| What about warranties against yellowing? | | | | - Can be refolded periodically |
| Some preservation companies advertise that their | | | | - Does not need refolding |
| preservation method will prevent yellowing and they | | | | - No permanent creasing |
| may even offer a warranty. Look carefully at any | | | | - Best air circulation |
| warranty offered by these companies. One warranty | | | | - Needs no maintenance |
| offered by a leading on-line preservation company | | | | No matter what type of preservation you choose, you |
| stated that they will cover discoloration and damages | | | | should keep your preserved gown in a |
| caused by their company's cleaning and preservation | | | | climate-controlled area. Do not be tempted to put your |
| processes. Another simply states that the gown may | | | | preserved gown in an attic or damp basement where |
| be returned to a participating dealer for inspection and | | | | temperatures and humidity levels will fluctuate |
| pressing. None of them state that they will replace an | | | | dramatically. Fluctuating temperatures increase the |
| aged, yellowed gown with a new gown. | | | | deterioration rate of textiles. |
| Keeping your gown in the best overall condition should | | | | Leaving your wedding gown in a vinyl bridal gown |
| be the primary concern in preserving your bridal gown. | | | | bag will promote rapid yellowing. This article discusses |
| So, protect your gown! Get it out of the plastic bag | | | | this and other risks of not preserving wedding gowns. |
| and have it cleaned and preserved in an acid-free | | | | Also discussed are museum recommended garment |
| environment. | | | | preservation techniques, and the benefits of the |
| Permanent creasing | | | | varying wedding gown preservation options of sealing, |
| Flat storage is recommended for textiles and | | | | boxing or Museum Method (hanging) preservation. |