Q.
Why are the collars of my
sport coats and suit jackets rippled and why are the lapels of my
sport coats and suit jackets hard pressed when I get them back from
my cleaners?
Matt, Los Angeles
A.
First,
let me make sure I understand your question.
Were you to observe a rack of suits or sport coats in a fine
clothing store, you'll notice that the rear of every collar is
perfectly rounded from gorge seam to gorge seam. Not rippled. And
that the lapels have a soft, rolled look. Not a hard press.
So you're wondering why your cleaner can't duplicate that
perfectly rounded, non-rippled, "factory formed" collar and soft,
rolling, "floating on air" lapels each and every time the sport
coat or suit jacket is cleaned?
Sorry, Matt, but I've got no idea why! But I do have some
suggestions.
Perhaps your cleaner should invest the resources necessary to
produce a
true quality garment, instead of extracting every penny of cost
from every facet of their cleaning, finishing, inspection and
packaging process. Perhaps they should focus on the quality of
their work, instead of the number of garments they can push through
their "production system" every hour. Perhaps your cleaner should
hire skilled garment finishers, instead of unskilled pressers.
Perhaps they should spend time hand finishing the garment, instead
of banging it out on a press.
True quality cleaning is about skill, judgment and time. It's
the very antithesis of the modus operandi of ordinary cleaners who
focus on volume, speed and low prices.
My suggestion is that you consider a true quality cleaner
instead of an ordinary cleaner. I'm pretty certain that a true
quality cleaner would never return your sport coat or suit jacket
with a rippled collar or hard pressed lapel.
If you have a question for Stu, send it to questions@ravefabricare.com.
How can I help you?