The fragile nature of fabrics and trims used in costume design calls for greater care in handling and wearing. Don't assume that the drycleaner who services the school football uniforms can service your custom designed sequined costumes.

Satin Stitches® has developed an exclusive production method in which the sequins are sewn onto the spandex, or they are permanently heat-transferred. These sequins, with proper laundering, will last for many, many years. Other costume company's sequined costumes will not last as long as Satin Stitches'.

Good-quality, professional dry cleaners can be difficult to find. You must choose a professional dry cleaner that has a good reputation. Costumes are frequently ruined by inexperienced cleaners.

Because YOU asked for it----

	We have a "COSTUME CARE SERVICE" that will take the worry out of your costume or uniform laundering needs. Available anywhere in the continental USA, Satin Stitches® will: » Arrange for the UPS pickup of your boxed costumes » Professionally dry clean or hand wash your costumes » Inspect and repackage your costumes - doing minor repairs (major repairs will be billed at our shop rate - estimates will be given) » Ship your costumes to you via UPS. This offer includes most types and brands of performance apparel, not just Satin Stitches® costumes and uniforms. PRICE: » $28 per costume for 1 or 2 costumes » $25 per costume for 3 to 20 costumes » $22 per costume for 21 to 50 costumes     (One-piece or two-piece costumes, higher for three or more-piece costumes) » $2.50 discount per costume if UPS service is not needed

NO sequined or rhinestoned costume or uniform will last at all, if proper dry cleaning or hand washing procedures are not followed. Here is a copyrighted article written by Deborah for DTDA INSIGHTS Magazine:

An Investment Worth Caring For

Has your dance team been thrilled by the acquisition of dazzling new costumes only to be dismayed to discover they have been snagged or stained during the first wearing, returned from the cleaners a shambles, or rendered unusable after a few weeks storage?

The fragile nature of fabrics and trims used in costume design calls for greater care in handling and wearing than is generally required for everyday apparel. Lycra® fabrics are indispensable for the flexibility they allow dancers; the disadvantage is their tendency to snag and stain. To prevent damage during handling and wearing, avoid brushing costumes against rough surfaces or protruding objects and, when pinning adornments to garments, check to make sure pins are not dull or rusty. If sitting on aluminum bleachers, place a soft cushion or shirt underneath - squirming sequined bottoms against aluminum bleachers quickly scratches the color off the sequins. Wearing cotton T-shirts under costumes will help guard against perspiration stains, and changing into sturdier teamwear between performances will cut down on the costume wear and tear. Use deodorant sparingly to avoid "caking" on the sequined underarms. Sequin manufacturers advise keeping sequins from contacting perfume, deodorant, hairspray, or alcoholic beverages. Wear a makeup cape, T-shirt, or cloth over the costume while spraying your hair. Don't wear sequin costumes in the rain as the color may run or the fabric can mildew. Invest in rain ponchos to protect your investment in that once a season, shower performance.

Satin Stitches® has developed an exclusive production method in which the sequins are sewn onto the spandex and withstands much more rigorous wear than the standard sequin fabric (sequins are chain-stitched onto spring-weave fabric).

Sequined costumes require knowledge of cleaning instructions for professionally produced designs. If your garment should become dampened by perspiration or water do the following:

Choose a professional dry cleaner that has a good reputation. Costumes are frequently ruined by inexperienced cleaners. Satin Stitches® custom designed costumes come with fabric/trim swatches to use for pretesting cleaning solutions. You should test a cleaner's ability by initially taking this fabric swatch to the cleaners and then, one costume to the cleaners. When you are assured they can handle the task, bring the rest of the team costumes. Never have the entire team's costumes cleaned without pretesting:

Instruct your dry cleaner to:

» Use SHORT CYCLES - 5 minutes
» Use PURE PERCHLORETHYLENE ONLY
» Use MAXIMUM 120 F in dry cleaning process
» Use MAXIMUM 120 F when drying
» Do NOT press or steam garment
» (Remember to ask your drycleaner if these are their standards, before they clean your costume.)

Don't assume that the drycleaner who services the school football uniforms can service your custom designed sequined costumes. Special care and knowledge of sequined fabric by the drycleaner is essential. As an added precaution, remind the drycleaner to use only perchlorehylene for the cleaning process, to dry the costumes without heat, and avoid steaming or pressing each time you bring costumes in for a cleaning.

Before storing costumes, thoroughly air-dry them. "We've seen costumes worn for entire seasons that look like new and we've seen costumes only worn for two weeks but look like they've been worn for 5 years and never laundered," reports Designer Deborah J. Nelson of Satin Stitches®. "A team's best insurance against costume loss or damage is to have one reliable person who is well-instructed in costume care - a team member, captain, coach or parent - take charge of costumes while traveling and when storing at season's end."

With proper care and storage, costumes will retain wearability and stay dazzling until the team is ready for a new design or can afford a change.

For additional information, see Deborah's latest "care" article: "Girls DO Sweat!"

FRESH AGAIN® is an odor eliminating product that we have tested on REALLY STINKY dance team uniforms - with wonderful results. By spraying Fresh Again on the inside of a stinky costume and letting it air dry thoroughly - your costume will truly be FRESH AGAIN! You can reserve the cleaning of your uniforms to once per season (this will help your uniforms to last longer). This product has been used by the Radio City Rockettes, costume and formal rental stores, the military, police and firefighters, theaters, professional sports clubs, movie productions and many more! This is a MUST HAVE for anyone who has a performance costume or uniform! In addition to the uniform and costume spray, Fresh Again has specially formulated shoe and athletic wear spray, pet odor spray and smoke odor spray, as well.

Fresh Again Step by Step Instructions Order Fresh Again online