• Inspect thoroughly for stains, wear, age and oxidation. Use a SpectraLight to help identify currently invisible stains. Test the beads and trim for serviceability.
• Tighten or replace beading and repair as needed.
• Hand clean using gentle proprietary soaking prcedures.
• Rinse in a virgin solvent for a brief period to remove all cleaning agents.
• Anti-sugar treatment prevents latent caramelized stains.
• Inspect thoroughly for stains and latent sugars.
• Post cleaning stain removal if needed.
• Tighten beading and seams as required. Replace any missing ornamentation.
• Hand finish the gown with extreme care to respect the designer's lines and drape.
• Customer Inspection of the gown prior to boxing, if desired.
• Package in a clean room in an archival-quality acid-free box with acid-free tissue and an unbleached cotton muslin liner.

Legacy Note: Visit the Photo Gallery to see a small sample of our gown cleaning accomplishments. Also, have your gown professionally cleaned soon after your wedding. The longer stains remain on the gown, the more difficult they are to remove and the harder it is on the garment to remove them.

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Anti-Sugar Treatment (top)

There is much more to preserving a gown than removing all the visible stains and placing it in an acid-free box. Many preserved gowns look fine just after cleaning. However, invisible stains may still persist. Sugar stains are initially invisible, but with time they will darken and seriously stain the gown, this process is called caramelization. Such stains are the product of soda, champagne, and other sugars that the cleaning process does not entirely remove. For this reason, Margaret’s puts each gown through a proprietary Anti-Sugar Treatment. Once treated, the gowns are thoroughly inspected with a Spectra Light to identify any latent sugar stains and then each stain is individually removed.

Note: It can not be emphasized enough the necessity of performing an anti-sugar treatment on silk gowns especially.

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Packaging Materials (top)

Completely archival, our storage box and tissue are acid-free, sulfer and lignin-free, and buffered to remain acid-free. Just because a product (like cardboard) is described as acid-free that does not mean it will remain acid-free. Only true archival-quality products are guaranteed to remain acid free.

The desized, unbleached, and washed cotton muslin liner serves as a fabric filter and blotter which helps keep any moisture away from the gown.

This is not the lesser quality more typical sealed box method. The materials margaret's utilizes are truly archival and not sealed. Museum conservators recommend the unsealed Museum Box Storage method over the sealed box method. The sealed box method uses a seal to stabilize the cardboard box that is not of archival quality. Even though most boxes these days are acid-free, they are not of archival quality and contain sulfer and ligin that will eventually turn acidic once exposed to moisture and air. All materials Margaret's uses are truely archival in nature.

Legacy Note: A cotton-muslin bag fits over the box to keep the box clean. It can be easily washed, and still allows maximum breatheability for the gown.

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Storage Procedure & Margaret's NEW Gown Storage Service (top)

Store your boxed gown in a cupboard or closet in the main section of the house, preferably in a place where it will be left undisturbed. A guestroom or spare room closet is ideal. Don’t store your gown in the attic, basement, on a cement slab, or in a closet that contains an outside wall. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can result in damage to the gown. If at all possible, it is best to store the box flat to prevent shifting of the gown during storage. If it is necessary to store the box on end there is adequate tissue to support the gown from bunching up at the box bottom.

We suggest that you store your gown in a cool, dark, dry location. Check it every two or three years and refold it to prevent permanent creases, but otherwise keep handling to a minimum. Because oils from your skin can damage the preservation, we always include a pair of white gloves to use whenever you handle your gown.

A new service from Margaret's is our Vestito Bridal Gown Storage. For a small fee we will store your gown in a temperature and climate-controlled environment for as long as you wish. Consider this for before the wedding to keep your husband-to-be from spying on it and to protect it from crushing in a crowded closet! Following preservation we will store if for as long as you wish. This includes a yearly gown inspection and refold whenever needed.

Note: You can remove and wash the outer muslin cover to keep your chest looking like new.

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Warrantee (top)

Through its relationship with the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, Margaret's includes a Lifetime/International warrantee honored in over 500 locations. We're proud to be the only bridal service provider in San Diego County who includes this guarantee!

Your preservation includes a 100% International guarantee against carmalized sugar stains or yellowing of the gown. Return gown to any participating Wedding Gown Specialist, who will inspect and press the gown at no charge. Improper handling of the gown without the supervision of a Wedding Gown Specialist may cause damage and compromise the true preservation of your gown.

 

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Opening The Chest (top)

With the Museum Box Storage Method utilized in our Legacy Gown Preservation it is possible for you to periodically open and inspect your gown without voiding the warrantee. We recommend that you periodically open the box, inspect the gown and refold it to prevent permanent creases from being developed. It is best to refolded the gown every 3 to 5 years and we would gladly assist in the opening and folding process if you desire. Please make an appointment and bring the gown in to one of our locations if you wish us to assist in the inspection and folding process.

Legacy Note: Use your anniversary as a reminder to check and/or refold your gown. Every fifth year anniversary is a great reminder.

 

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Courier Service (top)

Nationwide Free courier service is provide for those wishing to take advantage of Margaret's expertise that don't reside in Southern California. Feel free to request a free courier pack to ship your gown to Margaret's for processing. The courier pack will contain all the necessary materials to safely ship your gown, including a pre-paid shipper. Upon completion of our preservation services, Margaret's will expertly package your completed heirloomed gown in a custom shipping container with a vapor barrier for safe transport back home. Free return shipping with insurance is provided through our Clean-By-Mail™ service. We provide detailed instructions and white gloves such that you may unpack the shipping container and open and inspect your gown without voiding the warrantee.

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Site Pick-Up (top)

If you are taking advantage of Southern California's beauty to hold your wedding here and returning to your home outside of Southern California we have a great way to assure your gown receives only the finest of care. We will be honored to pick up your gown at the resort or reception site after the wedding, preserve your gown and ship the completed heirloomed gown to your home. Margaret's will pick up the shipping costs.

Legacy Note: Contact our bridal coordinator before the wedding to set up the pick up of your gown from an authorized person. Then you can honeymoon knowing your gown is in good hands. Fresh stains are easy to remove!

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