National Clothesline

What do geriatrics and garment care have to do with each other?

Caring for historic garments can be likened to caring for an elderly person. That’s how textile conservator A. Newbold Richardson explained it to a recent gathering of members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists.

Richardson, the co-owner of The Costume and Textile Specialists, compared herself to a doctor who specializes in geriatric patients when it comes to her work with vintage textiles.

“You wouldn’t push your grandmother so hard that she bruises,” she said. “So be especially cautious with vintage textiles because they, too, ‘bruise’ easily. Whether it is a family heirloom or a museum artifact, decide together with the client on what is best for the object within the framework of the client’s expectations.”

Richardson, who serves as a collection management and conservation consultant to private and institutional clients such as historical societies, universities, and museums, was one of several speakers at the conference. Also featured was a tour of association member Kermit Engh’s plants in the host city of Omaha, NE — Fashion Care and Omaha Lace. At Fashion Care, the latest developments in automated marking, assembly, and bagging equipment were on display, making a sharp contrast to Omaha Lace, where Engh processes specialty textiles using highly-specialized, vintage equipment that is no longer manufactured for finishing antique linens and lace such as Madeira tablecloths.

All of the association’s members specialize in gown cleaning and preservation. Regular meetings bring together members from across the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America. The main event at the Omaha meeting was the introduction of Wedding Planner software from another Omaha firm, Summitsoft Corp. The company designed its wedding planning software with help from leaders in the wedding industry, including AWGS members.

“With over 2.5 million couples getting married each year, there is a surprising lack of information all in one place to help couples plan every detail of their wedding,” said Bruce Lowry, Summitsoft’s president and CEO. “Although magazines and wedding websites are an incredible resource for newly engaged couples, there is still nothing out there that successfully combines wedding resources with comprehensive planning tools.”

As the first group to view a demonstration of the all-inclusive planner, association members looked on as ABC-TV’s affiliate station KETV filmed a wedding couple using the planner. The planner features the association’s logo, links to its website, and includes a gift certificate for gown preservation good at any association member’s location.

Another featured speaker at the meeting was award-winning videographer Gary Gellman of Gellman Images. He covers events for Fortune 500 companies, professional sports figures, and political leaders and has appeared nationally on CBS-TV, ABC-TV, and Fox Broadcasting Company. Gellman, who frequently videographs weddings and recently completed production of a video CD for association members, described the process of creating effective marketing imagery for the bridal market.

The group also heard from Linda Stokes-Barth of Barth’s Cleaning Centre in Orangeville, ON, who spoke on the topic of networking with hotel wedding venues.

Also at the meeting, current president Marty Wade of Clothing Care in Hampton, VA, and past president Malcolm MacGregor of Browns Cleaners in Ottawa, ON, thanked retiring members of the board of directors for their service and introduced the incoming board members.

Retiring members are Mark Witt of Arcadia Cleaners in Phoenix, AZ, Phyllis Hughes of Caring Cleaners in Daytona Beach, FL, and Jack Barth of Barth’s Cleaning Centre in Orangeville, ON.

New board members are Engh, Surendra Kumar of Oakwood The Greener Cleaner in Hermitage, TN, and Gary Fine of Parkers Cleaners in Toronto, ON.

First-time attendees at the meeting included Sharlene Thum of Five Star Wedding Gown Specialists in San Antonio, TX, Jan Barlow of Jan’s Professional Cleaners in Clio, MI, Heather Ziccarelli of Owl Cleaners in Warrendale, PA, Bill Wright of Royal Cleaners in Northport, AL, and Dennis Porter of Nu Yale Cleaners in Louisville, KY, and Jeffersonville, IN.

Each association member honors the guarantee of every other member, which includes taking the gown out of the container and pressing it at no charge when the gown is to be worn again.

For brides outside of market areas with local service, the association offers AWGS Courier Service, which makes the trademarked MuseumCare gown preservations available via both telephone and the Internet. MuseumCare is recommended by more than 70 gown manufacturers and is also endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants, an worldwide organization dedicated to wedding professionals worldwide.