Sweaters and knits constitute a significant portion
of our clients' investment in their wardrobe.
There's alpaca, angora, camelhair, cashmere, escorial, marino,
mohair, vicuna and other fine wools. From the likes of Ballantyne,
Belinda Robinson, Escada, Gucci, Hermes, Jean Muir, John Laing,
Loro Piana, Missoni, N. Peal, Pringle, Ralph Lauren, TSE and St.
John Knits.
At a true quality cleaner, every sweater and knit garment will
be carefully measured prior to cleaning. Cleaned in a fabric
gentle, non-dye stripping, dermatologically-friendly, odorless dry
cleaning fluid. Depilled and delinted. Blocked to your
pre-cleaning measurements after cleaning. And packaged to help
maintain their shape.
So what, exactly, does blocking mean?
Blocking involves:
- Measuring all dimensions of a garment prior to cleaning.
- Maintaining a record of all those dimensions.
- Shaping the garment to those pre-cleaning measurements, using
hands and steam.
- Applying a vacuum to "dry" the steam and "lock" the shape into
place.
If you asked your cleaner whether they measured all their
sweaters and knit garments prior to cleaning, and then blocked
those sweaters and knit garments to their pre-cleaning
measurements, they'll probably say "Yes." Don't believe
it.
So what do you do?
Insist on proof of blocking!
At a true quality cleaner, every sweater and knit garment is
carefully measured (up to 12 separate dimensions) prior to
cleaning. These dimensions are noted on one of four custom printed
blocking tags -- for sweaters/blouses, slacks/trousers, dresses and
skirts.
The blocking tag accompanies your garment through the entire
cleaning, finishing, inspection and packaging process. At the
packaging stage, they hang the blocking tag on your garment hanger
or place it in your breathable sweater bag.
While
an ordinary cleaner may claim that they block their sweaters and
knits, a true quality cleaner puts the proof of blocking right in
your hands. Because claims without proof are just
hallucinations.
From an equipment point of view, blocking involves the use of
specialized sweater steam/vacuum tables. This way the entire
garment can be laid perfectly flat and blocked to shape using steam
and vacuum.
If you asked your cleaner whether they finish your sweaters on a
specialized sweater steam/vacuum table, they'll probably say "Yes".
Don't believe it.
So what do you do?
Ask to see it!
For example, in the metro Phoenix area - the fifth largest
metropolitan area in the USA - only one cleaner,
RAVE FabriCARE, has sweater tables.
How can I help you?