Remember: Presentation (& Preservation) is Key

Are you storing your costumes correctly?Chances are, the answer is no. Clothing may be thrown in unorganized boxes, or hung in the closet without garment bags. But, proper storage is imperative when it comes to maintaining the integrity and presentation of your garments for the long haul.

Now I’m sure we’re all guilty of leaving sweaters in the closet without mothballs or cedar blocks only to discover small holes in them the following season, but with important costumes - it's a whole different story. It can become a big issue down the line when you are working with iconic and important clothing that may be used for presentation purposes down the line. So we put together a couple tips to help you keep your costumes looking great.

BREATHABLE GARMENT BAGS - You would be shocked how many pieces we find that are either not stored in garment bags or are stored in the wrong kind - i.e. plastic, with broken zippers. This happens partially due to the fact that many pieces are older, and no one has tended to them since they were originally stored. However, breathable garment bags are an essential solution and a great investment for maintaining the integrity of your pieces. We suggest muslin garment bags, and we put photos of the pieces on the outside of the bags for quick easy reference.

ACID FREE PAPER - Many garments need to be packed with paper, especially small delicates. We suggest using special acid free paper to pack these items, as well as placing smaller items in acid free garment boxes if they are not going in a muslin garment bag. You can also use acid free paper when hanging pieces in garment bags.

ROAD BOXES - So you’ve worn an iconic costume. Now truth be told, you will probably never wear it again. So where should it go? Some may put it in their closet, a box, or a bin. However, it should be stored in a breathable garment bag, to protect it from the elements and uninvited guests (moths). Our first suggestion: Road Boxes. Not everyone has the space to keep iconic clothing in their touring road boxes because they will be used for the next tour, and new clothing will go inside. So if possible, we suggest getting additional road boxes for archival purposes. This is definitely an investment, but it’s worth it. However, if custom road boxes are not in the budget, we suggest cardboard wardrobe boxes. These are light and easy to move, but they won’t store as much stuff, and will usually require that you purchase more boxes down the line.

HANGERS - We LOVE thin felt hangers for a couple reasons. The obvious reason: they look clean, uniform, and organized. They also allow you to store more pieces because they are straight up and down, unlike some hangers that have a slight curve. We also love that the felt makes it easier for the garments to stay on the hanger. They also usually have a bottom bar, so you can hang garments like pants or scarfs, while also hanging tops and dresses.

WASH YOUR CLOTHES - This may seem pretty obvious, but it’s not. Artists are not immune to sweat. Sorry, they just aren’t. So, if pieces are worn and not properly cleaned and left to sit, they will develop stains, and over time these are very hard, if not impossible to get out. So rule of thumb - wash your clothing, or make sure someone in wardrobe is cleaning after wearing.

As you can see, proper storage is imperative for preservation and future presentation of your belongings.

Until next month!

Your Friends

@ My ARTIST ARCHIVE

P.S... Have questions? Wanna hear more about our services or speak to someone regarding scheduling an appointment. Send us an email @ info@myartistarchive.com or fill out the form on our CONTACT page!

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