A client was recently referred to us
by Gucci, Scottsdale. She had just picked up a Gucci GG fabric and
leather handbag from a Phoenix, Arizona dry cleaner and was, to put
it mildly, quite distraught.
She informed us that the dry cleaner had "ruined"
her Gucci handbag which was of great sentimental value. According
to the client, she had inquired about the cleaning process to be
used and was told that the handbag would be safely dry cleaned in a
special dry cleaning machine that used a special dry cleaning
solvent. And the cost? Around $50.
The results were quite predictable:
* The leather had hardened and
puckered.
* The original off-white dye had been
removed in numerous places.
* The GG fabric was stuffed in at
least seven places.
Remarkably, the plating on the hardware, although
now scratched, had not flaked or peeled off.
She asked us if we could restore the handbag. We
asked her to bring it in or send it in and told her that we'd call
her with the results of our evaluation once we had the opportunity
to carefully examine the handbag.
About two and a half weeks later the client came to
pick up her handbag and was delighted with the results. We
had:
* reconditioned the leather, thereby
reducing the hardness and puckering.
* re-dyed the leather by hand, thereby
returning the leather to its original off-white color
* hand cleaned the exterior GG fabric
and hand cleaned the interior canvas lining.
Regrettably, there was nothing we could do about
the scuffing to the GG fabric. That damage is permanent and cannot
be repaired.
The take-away from this story is quite
simple:
Never allow a dry cleaner to "dry clean" your
handbag, purse, backpack and wallet in a machine, no matter how
many adjectives they use to characterize their dry clean machine
and their dry cleaning solvent.
Instead, all handbags, purses, backpacks and
wallets should be cleaned BY HAND. And then only by a cleaner who
specializes in these accessories. Furthermore, the only way to
ensure that the cleaner does, in fact, specialize in these
accessories is to make sure that the cleaner has a FULL TIME
handbag and purse cleaner ON PREMISES.
RAVE FabriCARE is the only dry cleaner in Arizona
that employs a full time handbag cleaner whose sole job is to hand
clean handbags, purses, wallets and backpacks. Unlike other
cleaners, we'd never "clean" by machine and we'd never send your
accessories to outside parties for cleaning. That way we're able to
deliver the very best technologically achievable results and return
your items, in most cases, in a week and a half to two weeks.
The following before and after photos reflect the
transformation.
BEFORE
AFTER
How can I help you?
To comment on this post, please use the comment
section below.
To ask a question relating to any of your garments
or accessories, please email us.
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She informed us that the dry cleaner had "ruined" her Gucci
handbag which was of great sentimental value. According to the
client, she had inquired about the cleaning process to be used and
was told that the handbag would be safely dry cleaned in a special
dry cleaning machine that used a special dry cleaning solvent. And
the cost? Around $50.
The results were quite predictable:
- The leather had hardened and puckered.
- The original off-white dye had been removed in numerous
places.
- The GG fabric was scuffed in at least seven places.
Remarkably, the plating on the hardware, although now scratched,
had not flaked or peeled off.
She asked us if we could restore the handbag. We asked her to bring it in or
send
it in and told her that we'd call her with the results of our
evaluation once we had the opportunity to carefully examine the
handbag.
About two and a half weeks later the client came to pick up her
handbag and was delighted with the results. We had:
- reconditioned the leather, thereby reducing the hardness and
puckering.
- re-dyed the leather by hand, thereby returning the leather to
its original off-white color
- hand cleaned the exterior GG fabric and hand cleaned the
interior canvas lining.
Regrettably, there was nothing we could do about the scuffing to
the GG fabric. That damage is permanent and cannot be repaired.
The take-away from this story is quite simple:
Never allow a dry cleaner to "dry clean" your handbag, purse,
backpack and wallet in a machine, no matter how many adjectives
they use to characterize their dry clean machine and their dry
cleaning solvent.
Instead, all handbags, purses, backpacks and wallets should be
cleaned BY HAND. And then only by a cleaner who specializes in
these accessories. Furthermore, the only way to ensure that the
cleaner does, in fact, specialize in these accessories is to make
sure that the cleaner has a FULL TIME handbag and purse cleaner ON
PREMISES.
RAVE FabriCARE is the only dry cleaner in Arizona that employs a
full time handbag cleaner whose sole job is to hand clean handbags, purses, wallets
and backpacks. Unlike other cleaners, we'd never "clean" by
machine and we'd never send your accessories to outside parties for
cleaning. That way we're able to deliver the very best
technologically achievable results and return your items, in most
cases, in a week and a half to two weeks.
The following before and after photos reflect the
transformation.
BEFORE
AFTER
How can I help you?
To comment on this post, please use the comment section
below.
To ask a question relating to any of your garments or
accessories, please email us.