Clothing is so much more than fabric and stitches. It is even more than how you express yourself and present yourself to the world. Clothing can be a connection to history, memories, and family, especially when it’s clothing that has been passed down from generation to generation.
When a piece of clothing is this significant, it’s crucial to take the proper precautions to keep it in pristine condition. One innocent mistake in handling your heirloom item could permanently damage it. This article will make sure you know how to prevent that by covering everything you need to know to protect your most treasured clothing.
The Most Common Heirloom Clothing Items
You might have heirloom clothing without even realizing it. Here are a few of the most common types.
Wedding Dresses
Wedding gowns are one of the most popular heirloom items. They are beautiful and they help recreate the story of a woman’s special day. Some dresses are worn again, while other dresses are preserved and admired. Either way, wedding dresses are a treasured keepsake.
Christening or Baptism Gowns
These delicate, often hand stitched gowns are the perfect heirloom to pass from generation to generation, worn only once by each baby. They become a beautiful thread connecting family members through shared faith and tradition.
Military Uniforms
Military uniforms are especially precious and moving to their owners. They represent service, sacrifice, and history - for both family and country. Whether displayed or stored safely, military heirlooms are some of the most treasured.
Handmade Sweaters and Shawls
Years ago, female family members gathered together to knit, quilt, and crochet a variety of items for precious friends and family. It was common for these women to give handmade sweaters and shawls as holiday gifts. These treasured heirlooms hold the time and talent poured into the piece by your loved one.
Scarves and Handkerchiefs
Scarves and handkerchiefs are classic accessories that remind us of a bygone era when women wore pin curls and men always had a handkerchief ready to loan to a woman in need. These hand-me-downs take up little space but carry important memories.
Baby Clothes
Who hasn’t saved a few pieces of sweet baby clothing from each of their children? Perhaps it was the hat they wore in the hospital, the outfit they came home in, or hand knit booties from a family member. Few things are harder to part with than the tiny clothing that reminds you how small your child once was.
If this list of cherished belongings brings a tear to your eye or stirs up memories, you aren’t alone. We all have irreplaceable items that mean the world to us. And though it’s not an exciting task, we will thank ourselves later if we spend time now learning how to properly care for our most precious possessions.
How to Care for Your Heirloom Clothing
1. Take every precaution when handling
With heirloom clothing, you cannot be too gentle. Aging fabrics can be extremely fragile, so make sure your hands are clean before handling them. Even better, wear cotton gloves to avoid oils from your hands getting on the fabric. Limit how often you handle heirloom clothing if possible - the more you touch fragile items, the more likely they are to be damaged.
2. Be careful when cleaning heirloom items
Every garment should be cleaned before storing, but an heirloom certainly isn’t something you want to throw in your washing machine. Even the gentle cycle is too much of a risk. Instead, look for a professional cleaner who specializes in vintage or delicate fabrics. An experienced cleaner may be able to remove stains and launder the item without weakening the fabric.
3. Don’t skimp on storage
Now is not the time to reuse a plastic dry cleaning bag or purchase a plastic storage bin. Clothing needs to breathe, especially in long-term storage, and that means having a breathable storage container is a must. Organic cotton storage bags are a great option. Ours are made of soft, GOTS-certified cotton that keeps delicate garments protected from dust, pests, and light, while still allowing your special items to breathe.
4. Stay away from the light
While you may want your closet to be well lit, that’s the last thing you want for your storage location. The best storage spots are cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. Attics, basements, or spots near heating vents are also poor choices because they are susceptible to humidity and temperature changes. A spare closet or temperature controlled storage unit are good choices.
5. Story before storage
Before you store your heirlooms away for an extended period of time, don’t forget the most important thing - capturing their stories. Take some time to write down the story of the item - whose it was, when it was worn, and any details about the occasion. Even better, if you have relatives who can tell you about the item, consider filming them telling you about it. Pack a written history of the item (or a QR code linking to a video) with the heirloom when you store it.
There is nothing more heartwarming than being able to give or receive a piece of heirloom clothing. Such a gift brings families closer together and adds color to a family’s history. Consider looking through your closet to see if you have any special clothing you would like to preserve for future generations, and then use the tips above to care for it so it will last for years to come.
