Gown Restoration
By Orange Restoration Labs
ANTIQUE GOWN RESTORATION & PRESERVATION
Heirloom wedding gown preservation and vintage wedding gown restoration are our specialties. If the wedding gown of your dreams is a family bridal gown that time has yellowed and stained, call Orange Restoration Labs! We specialize in restoring antique gowns and vintage bridal gowns to the true color without damage to delicate fabrics or dyes. We remove stains and discoloration that ordinary dry cleaners cannot, and our restorations have been featured on television and in publications around the world.
Whether it is a vintage wedding gown or vintage wedding veil or one of those special gowns you or someone in your family wore as a child, we can renew it for your special day. You can trust us to give your vintage wedding gown or family wedding gown the care and attention it deserves.
Oxidation
Exposure to air and light causes oxidation, and when fabric oxidizes, it turns yellow. Different types of fibers oxidize at different rates of speed. For example, cotton discolors more quickly than other fibers, but over a long period, the different fibers may all oxidize to the same hue. As a result, a vintage wedding gown that appears yellow or even brown throughout may, when restored, turn out to be an ivory silk gown trimmed with white cotton lace. Other factors that yellow gowns are excessive heat in the attic where the vintage wedding gown was stored and fumes from the plastic bag or container in which the vintage wedding gown was stored. Dry cleaning does not remove oxidation, but our restoration process does, and we can return a vintage wedding gown to its true color–whether it is white or ivory. Oxidation is not as evident in colored fabric, but it, too, oxidizes, and colors may also be restored.
Caramelized Sugar Stains
Brides who bring us yellowed and stained vintage wedding gowns.often think the original bride spilled coffee on her wedding dress and that the wedding gown was never cleaned or the cleaner failed to remove the stains. These dark brown stains are actually caramelized sugar stains. Years ago–and even today–cleaners did not realize sugar does not dissolve in dry cleaning solvent. The wedding gowns they processed looked clean, but the sugar content in the stain was still there. The sugar content in these latent stains turns yellow and eventually dark brown. Much like oxidation, dry cleaning does not remove caramelized sugar stains, but our restoration process does..
Free Consultations
We can offer you ideas for redesigning the family wedding gown for today’s bride, suggest ways to turn your wedding gown into a christening gown, or help you with special projects such as displaying a family wedding gown at a reception or anniversary celebration. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Make An Appointment
If you are interested in our services or have any questions, contact us today. We look forward to helping you preserve and restore your wedding dress for years to come.