National Clothesline

Leaders from high-end fashion assembled to discuss aspects of quality assurance with high-end drycleaning organization America’s Best Cleaners (ABC), and to learn of a new drycleaner quality accreditation program in the works, on Sept. 16 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich, CT.

The accreditation program is intended to be both rigorous and comprehensive. The final program will be certified by the Hohenstein Institutes and Miele USA, Veit and Kreussler, the preeminent firms in wetcleaning technology. Negotiations continue with prominent international manufacturers to establish a certificate in finishing.

The prospect of an industry standard that looks out for the interests of consumers, retailers, and manufacturers intrigued Joe Dixon, vice president of production and technical services for Brooks Brothers. “We are looking at [America’s Best Cleaners] very, very closely,” he said.

Joining Dixon on the guest panel were fashion designer Jhane Barnes of Jhane Barnes Menswear, Scott Mitchell of the Connecticut retailers Richards/
Mitchells, women’s couture designer Jean Claude Mastroianni, men’s designer and retailer Kent Neilsen of Chicago, and Erica Jensen, proprietor of Greenwich’s luxury boutique Helen Ainson. All participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives and affiliates of America’s Best Cleaners. Stu Nifoussi, publisher of the menswear trade publication, MR Magazine, served as the moderator. Andrew Rupp, president of the multinational corporation Mainetti Americas, the largest hanger company in the world, was in attendance.

The opening topic of discussion of “does the manufacturer really care if their clothes can be cleaned?” was met with a resounding “yes.” Said Barnes, “We go through a lot of trouble to make accurate care labels, so it’s frustrating to see my clothes ruined anyway.”

“It’s common for clients to return clothes destroyed in cleaning to [retailers],” added Scott Mitchell. This adds up, and adversely affects both retailers and manufacturers alike, even if the problem is an unqualified cleaner.

America’s Best Cleaners (www.americasbestcleaners.com) is a national organization that strives to locate and recognize the best drycleaning establishments in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States.

“Affiliates are subject to an annual certification based on garment care quality, customer service, and proficiency in the latest technology,” said Christopher White, ABC’s technical director. As a network of nationwide quality cleaners, ABC has attracted the attention of the garment industry through its position as intermediary between customer, retailer and manufacturer.

“We saw this as a great opportunity to align forces with other industries having so much in common,” said Ed D’Elicio, founder and executive director of America’s Best Cleaners. “Our clients are their clients. I liken forums such as these to open-sourcing in software development. We come together from our separate spheres and collaborate to improve our businesses, ultimately for the good of the consumer.

It’s exciting. It’s unprecedented.”

Kevin Weir, CEO of Liberty-Pittsburgh Systems Inc., has been appointed to serve on the board of the Textile Care Allied Trades Association.

“I am honored to be appointed to the TCATA board and look forward to further contributing to the needs of the industry,” Weir said.

A manufacturer of tags and forms, Liberty-Pittsburgh Systems Inc. has been a member of TCATA for more than 50 years.