National Clothesline

In Greek mythology, the story of Pandora’s Box is a fascinating one. In one interpretation, the young and beautiful Pandora is created by the gods on Mount Olympus and sent down to the Earth to marry Epimetheus. She is also given custody of a intricately-designed box and the accompanying instructions to never open it under any circumstances. Because Pandora was overtly curious, the box did not remain closed. Unfortunately for mankind, it contained death, disease and sorrow, which was immediately unleashed onto the world. Basically, we are lead to believe that all of the world’s pain and anguish came from that solitary source. However, people often forget that at the bottom of the box clung a little spark of hope inside the darkness, which evokes an important lesson to all of mankind: if it weren’t for pain and tragedy, hope would never exist.

Perhaps it is a dark lesson to learn, but it is one that echoes with a profound resonance shortly after Hurricane Katrina has swept through the Gulf States, killing at least 1,000 people and causing over $125 billion in damages. Even those who survived have suffered unbearably as many have lost their loved ones and livelihoods, and over one million people have become homeless. No sense can ever be made of so much loss, yet there is still some hope clinging in the shadows.

Already, Americans have generously donated over $1 billion dollars in relief to Katrina’s victims. As for the cleaning industry, associations like SDA, PDCA, IFI and NCA have raised money and examined methods for helping Gulf Coast cleaners in both the long and short terms. Many individual companies have also risen to the occasion, offering their support by donating their time, services and money. It’s been inspiring to see such a bond of brotherhood course through the industry.

Perhaps that is why some of the cleaners who have lost everything still foster enough faith to believe they can overcome the odds. While it’s true that many in the industry will go out of business never to return, it is still uplifting to focus on the testimonies of those who are trying to find a way to keep their plants alive. One such example is that of the Velez brothers in New Orleans. They may have lost all five of their Young’s Cleaners plants to the storm and a warehouse full of restored clothing, but they haven’t lost their will. In fact, both Don and Dale Velez have pledged that their company will be back someday. For some reason, there seems little doubt that they will keep their vow no matter how many hardships lay out before them.

Their resilience is inspiring it its own right because it shows how strong the human spirit can be. Perhaps that strength will be enough to convince cleaners who haven’t contributed yet to the Katrina fundraising efforts of SDA or PDCA to pick up a pen and fill out a check. As for those who have already donated so much, maybe there is still a little bit left that can be given — much like a certain spark of hope that resides at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.

Since we are noting one significant anniversary in this issue — Bill Fisher’s 40 years at IFI — there’s another one we can’t let pass without mention. Namely, ours. This month marks the anniversary of the publication of the first issue of National Clothesline. For that first issue in October 1961, the word “national” wasn’t part of the our name; the initial publication was directed at cleaners in the Delaware Valley. But the ambition to serve the industry was there from the beginning. The industry responded with its support, leading to the publication’s growth from local to national and beyond. We are indebted to hundreds of companies and individuals for that support and plan to repay that debt by continuing to serve.

The industry — and this publication — has seen some thin times and some fat times over those years. In that very first issue, a headline asked: “Will Wash and Wear Replace Drycleaning?” The answer, as we look back over 44 years, was both yes and no. Yes, in the sense that it meant the end for many individual cleaners and had far-reaching effects on the nature of the industry. But no in the sense that — guess what — we’re still here! By adapting, adjusting and persevering, cleaners, allied trades firms, trade associations and trade publications have survived in a rapidly changing market by providing useful and necessary services to each other and to the public. Service is always the key, even as the methods of delivering it constantly change.