While the Classic Cleaners’ motto is “the modern craft of clean”, actually “cleanliness” itself in the sense we now use the term is itself pretty modern.

It’s not that people in ancient times weren’t concerned with cleanliness.  They were.  The Bible tells of women going down to the river to wash their clothes, and dry cleaning actually dates back to ancient times.  In fact, in the ruins of Pompeii were found records of “fullers” who were the professional clothes cleaners of that time.

The first washing machine was invented by Sir John Hoskins in 1677, and, in 1848, the closest thing to dry cleaning as we know it was discovered by an owner of a textile dyeing factory when he found that the liquid from an oil lamp dissolved fat.

It’s just that hygiene in general, up until modern times, was viewed in extremely basic terms.  People generally washed their clothes – and themselves – in cold water unless they were wealthy. The great scholar Erasmus wrote about the bottom layer of medieval flooring being covered with rushes and left undisturbed, sometimes for twenty years, harboring spit, vomit, leakage of urine from animals and humans, and scraps.

In fact, since Classic Cleaners are wedding gown specialists, we know that one reason June became such a popular month for weddings is that, in medieval times, baths were annual, usually in may, so that June brides still smelled relatively fresh. (If not, the bridal bouquet was designed to divert attention from the odor!)

It’s obvious that our standards for both personal hygiene and the cleaning of clothes have been much refined.  Classic Cleaners is at the forefront of that trend towards spotless and sweet smelling, using the modern craft of clean!

By Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

“When building a wardrobe, invest in quality items that may initially be more expensive, but over the long run, are a better investments,” advises artofmanliness.com, adding that “maintaining quality clothing and footwear requires care, but the reward is a personal presentation that gets better with time.”.

At Classic Cleaners, that’s exactly the kind of reward we want to provide for our clients. In fact, we think of ourselves as having “joint custody” of customers’ fine garments, sharing the responsibility for keeping the wardrobe properly maintained. We couldn’t agree more with artofmanliness‘ statement that “Good clothing that is properly maintained always looks better than more expensive clothing that is neglected.”

With spring on the way, many clients are bringing in their winter garments for a dose of our special care. Here are several examples of what we mean by “joint clothing custody”, with each of us doing our part:

Our part:
The specialized Classic Cleaners dry cleaning processes help remove salts and sugars that have stained the fabric, and gets rid of any insect eggs on the fabric. 
Your part:
You avoid storing clothing that has not been cleaned alongside or on top of    clothing we’re prepared for summer storage.

Our part:
We pack each garment in plastic to protect it until it arrives back in your closet.
Your part:
You remove the plastic bags and place winter clothing in “breatheable” bags or containers for storage.

Our part:
We follow the care instructions on the manufacturer’s label on each garment.
Your part:
You tell your Classic Cleaners representative about each stain.
      
Classic Cleaners and you – a great clothing care team.  Using joint custody, we can nurture a healthy wardrobe and keep you looking your best all year long!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

Until the 20th century, a groom would simply wear his “Sunday best” on his wedding day.  But since at Classic Cleaners (we’re members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists), we’re familiar with modern weddings, we know that today, the usual attire of choice for the groom is a tuxedo.

The story of the tuxedo is an interesting one, beginning when President Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House.  Just 40 miles northwest of New York City there was a very exclusive residential colony called Tuxedo Park.  The story goes that at the first annual high society Tuxedo Part Autumn Ball, the son of tobacco magnate Pierre Lourillard was the first to sport a “tail-less” black jacket.  Roosevelt liked the style, and a new trend was born.

Also called a dinner jacket, today’s tuxedo is traditionally black or dark blue, with satin or grosgrain facing on the lapels and on stripes going down the sides of the trousers.  The complete semiformal outfit includes the bowtie, shirt, cummerbund, and sometimes a vest.  For warmer climates (at Classic cleaners we often help couples prepare their wardrobes for travel to destination weddings) a white or ivory dinner jacket may be worn.

Like any man’s suit, a tuxedo can be acquired three ways:

• Bespoke:  Suit is custom-made from a pattern the tailor creates from your measurements.
• Made to measure: Suit is tailored from a pre-made pattern and modified to fit you.
• Ready-to-wear:  Bought from a store and then possibly altered.

Classic Cleaners typically “meets” the groom’s tuxedo either:

• before the wedding when we do alternations and/or prepare the suit for travel.
• after the wedding when we clean the tuxedo, mend it where needed, and prepare it for storage.

“Nothing commands attention like a man in a well-fitted suit,” according to B.A. T.  At Classic Cleaners we’d add, “That goes double if that well-fitted suit happens to be a tuxedo!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

MARCH SHIRT FRENZY AT CLASSIC CLEANERS

LIMITED TIME OFFER MARCH 6 – 26
BRING IN 5, PAY FOR 4
From McCordsville to Broad Ripple, at Classic Cleaners we know one thing: Most of the time (even almost ALL of the time) isn’t nearly often enough for business shirts to be delivered in perfect, ready-to-wow-‘em shape.

“Clothes make the man” is an expression older than most of our Classic Cleaners blog readers, but, when it comes to dress shirts, we found, it’s truer than ever. Tony X. Jones remarks on ezine that shirts, which used to be “nothing more than just an undergarment to fit under a jacket…the focus was never on the dress shirt itself” now make important fashion statements of their own. 

At Classic Cleaners, our large and growing group of business executive female customers seems to be at the forefront of fashion in business shirts and blouses. These are meant to be worn either under a suit jacket or solo.

In fact, sometimes it’s hard to tell between men’s and women’s business shirts, so the Classic Cleaners’ button guarantee applies to both:

Should there be any broken or missing buttons on your laundered shirt,
we sew on new ones.

At Classic Cleaners, we know shirts.  Our adjustable Unipress machine represents the very latest in shirt finishing technology.  And with our 5 for the price of 4 limited time offer, achieving a perfectly tailored business look will be more economical than ever!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team