Preservations by Fox

Cleaning and Preserving Memories for Life!

Preservations by Fox was established to the dedication of the finest garment cleaning and preservation at the highest museum quality level for Wedding Gowns and other attire you wish to have for a future date.

"OK...how should my gown be cleaned?"

Our ORGANIC CLEANING Method

Each garment is individually processed and cleaned by our 100% organic cleaning method. During this process, an individual craftsman is assigned to monitor each item through its cleaning to insure quality.

Our environmentally safe method is not only friendly to our planet, but also to your garment. Fabric life is extended because our solutions are gentle, even on delicate or sensitive fabrics and trims.

This organic cleaning method is odor free and safe on your skin. Because we use no harsh petrochemical solvents you do not need to remove your garments from the plastic bags in order to air them out for several days as a safety precaution. Garments returned from Fox Fine Garment Cleaners are safe and ready to wear.

Gown Preservation Process

When your gown arrives at our studio, it is inspected so that any visible stains, loose beading or buttons, along with any torn fabrics are identified before we proceed. Next, each gown is inspected top to bottom using a special black light process, we then note any invisible stains ~ such as ~ sugar or salt deposits from food, alcohol, chlorinated water, or stains resulting from the activities of that special day. All stains are identified and tested to determine their origin before being pre-spotted by hand before the overall organic cleaning process begins. Each individual gown is then cleaned using fresh natural solutions each and every time. This non-toxic solution provides a gentler cleaning process than standard petroleum based solutions and is far superior when cleaning such delicate fabrics such as silks and satins used in fine wedding gowns. In addition, it is excellent in cleaning the beading on wedding gowns without burning or even melting the fine hand craftsmanship of the wedding gown’s detailing, which is a common problem with the traditional dry cleaning process. Our delicate, yet thorough, organic cleaning process maintains the luster and sheen of these delicate fabrics far better, leaving no odor to the gowns. After the cleaning process, each gown is allowed to dry naturally before the preservation process begins. Hand finishing now follows, using extreme care to follow the designer’s line and drape.

Storage of the Wedding Gown

Our boxes and tissues have been developed, selected and tested to meet specifications set by the most authoritative conservation specialists from major institutions in this country and abroad. Every component of our storage material is of the highest museum archival quality. These boxes and tissues have been selected and produced with meticulous care to rigorous standards.

The archival box is made from double wall corrugated cardboard, in a solidify dyed bridal white color, averaging approximately .10 inches in thickness, in order to provide a strong, rigid storage box (220lb. Test), exceeding museum and archival quality requirements. The paper used in the manufacture of our preservation box is of special lignin free, neutral pH quality and of excellent strength characteristics. “Lignin free” refers to the fact that lignin is acidic by nature. As lignin ages it degrades, releasing chemicals that cause yellowing and staining. Our boxes also been buffered against acid migration. Also, the archival tissues used in packing the garments is lignin free, neutral pH and porous.

In addition, the boxes are naturally vermin resistant. The paper itself used in the manufacturing process contains natural fiber that kills insects such as silver fish and moths upon ingestion. The boxes are also water resistant to the degree they can be submerged in water for 48 hours and remain intact.

From the endurance and acidity tests, it has been projected that these archival containers should last at least 500 years. A highly polluted industrial environment or prolonged exposure to the ultra violet rays of the sun can reduce the lifetime of the container, so under normal conditions you can expect only the best.

Museum conservators hope to extend the lifetime of textiles 220 years or more by storing in these archival containers with the archival tissues.

This entire process, along with the materials used, exceeds the US museum standards and requirements for preservation and conservation.