Page 37 - Mothmageddon

JONATHAN BERLIAND & GRAHAM WARREN
“Before I put anything into my shop, it is steamed thoroughly. It’s then placed in either a suit or a dress cover bag.
“If we’re storing items long-term, they go into vacuum sealed bags with the air removed and they’re stored in our beautiful basement which is filled with dehumidifiers to ensure there’s no moisture.”
Vintage clothes are hung on rounded rubber hangers. “It’s vital to hang garments properly to keep them pristine and as crease-free as possible.
“We use huge amounts of white, acid-free tissue paper which protects garments from discolouration and helps to maintain their colour.
“The old mothball is a thing of the past – they make everything stink of camphor – we have to steam and Febreeze® that smell out of any garments we take in because it’s very off-putting. Let’s face it, moth repellents have come a long way since the original ones were invented.
“To maintain the clothes, we use natural cedar balls which for example we put in the pockets of minks we sell and use the wooden blocks or hanging blocks that fit over a hanger with natural cedar oil added to them since moths hate that smell.”
If you love vintage clothing and want advice on something vintage, do visit Elena’s Foxtrot Facebook page. Better yet, take a trip to Salisbury and pop into Foxtrot!
Here are some more expert tips for caring for your vintage clothes.
• Clean all your vintage finds before putting them into your wardrobe. If you see any moths (eggs, larva, pupa or adults) on the clothes, remove them with a warm cloth (then discard the cloth in an outside rubbish bin and wash hands).
• Place the garment into a deep freezer for a week and then hand- wash it. Delicate clothes made from satin, taffetas, crepes, and
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