IRONING OUT THE FACTS FOR YOU
What to Consider Before Purchasing ‘No Iron’ Garments Garments these days can tout some serious technology, but it’s important to know that sometimes these perks may not be worthy of your wardrobe. We recently received some background about “no-iron” shirts. Passing along this information isn’t to sway our clients one way or the other, we simply believe in sharing our expertise to help you make the most informed decisions when investing in clothing. While the idea of not ironing sounds very convenient, you may not want to permanently stow away your ironing board just yet. According to Consumer Reports, no-iron shirts have a 20-25% shorter lifespan than untreated cotton shirts. The National Cleaners Association goes on to elaborate that the very treatment process that keeps these fabrics so smooth actually makes them more fragile. Collar, cuff, and elbow areas that are exposed to more friction are particularly susceptible to damage. Furthermore, these treatments can make the garments less breathable, thus the wearer may perspire more, which subsequently leads to additional wear-and-tear via dirt and oils. While we emphasize the value of a quality professional cleaning, it’s not a preventative remedy for these already weakened fibers. If the thought of an iron has you steaming, then perhaps this early lifespan is a worthy trade off – we just suggest not getting too attached to these types of garments for the long run. For questions about your clothing, no-iron or not, or about Sudsies green cleaning processes, you can speak with a dedicated customer service concierge at 305.864.3279. Additional information about our services can be found at sudsies.com.
NEW YEAR, MORE FRESH POSSIBILITIES
It’s a New Year, new decade, and new opportunity for Sudsies to best serve as South Florida’s favorite luxury dry cleaner. But first, with us being the sentimental kind and all, we wanted to briefly reflect on just how far we’ve come.
Suited For You
The Timeless Suit…Sudsies Shares Tips For Maintaining Its Longevity Imagine dressing for work in full coat tails, silk stockings, knee breaches, and all sorts of other fussy accessories (powdered wigs included). The early 1800s was fashioned just like that within the royal courts of England. You can thank influencer Beau Brummell for pioneering a sleeker take with simple jackets and full-length trousers. Though born into middle class status, Brummell’s high fashion sense impressed the nobles, including Prince-Soon-To-Be-King George IV, and was picked up across Europe and beyond throughout the British empire. The suit has continued to evolve in simplicity. Today, there are three main types: the everyday/professional suit, the fashion suit, and what Sudsies likes to call “The Superman Power Suit.” Price points vary, though note that higher-end labels lend themselves to a significant higher quality. This includes finer wools and other fabrics, but also stitching throughout the entire structure of the garment, as opposed to gluing select areas in place (a practice, unfortunately, found in many lower priced options). This fast fix glue approach tends to bubble and warp over time with wear and cleaning. Regardless of the occasion – or price point – each should be stored, handled, and cleaned with detailed attention. When hanging, be sure to leave space (about a hanger’s width) between each piece to avoid any awkward creases that comes with being smushed (it also makes locating select pieces much easier!). Unless you’re wearing your suit, hanging is how it should be maintained at all times…even when bringing it in to your cleaner. Simply drape your yellow Sudsies VIP bag over the hanger/s for your valet to pick up and he/she will ensure a safe transport to our boutique locations. While we return your freshly-cleaned items beautifully packaged, remove the plastic covering immediately before re-hanging. Not doing so can result in trapped moisture and eventual mildew. If you prefer covering, opt for a muslin garment bag that allows the fabric to breathe. How often you clean your suits varies. Any visible stains need to be treated right away, but also consider those invisible ones. Sweat and oils may not appear right away, but over time will oxidize, resulting in dingy yellow marks and even fabric breakdown. Similarly, odorous particles insidiously erode the material. If you attended a smoke-filled event or dined at a particularly aromatic restaurant, consider requesting a pickup the following day. Collared shirts and blouses require more consistent cleanings as they have direct contact with the body. Our cleaning technicians pay extra focus on the collar, cuffs, and underarm areas. How each suit gets cleaned depends on the specific garment. At Sudsies, we inspect each garment and proceed with the best technique based upon the materials, make, and any select areas needing specific attention. We are particularly adept at hand cleaning, which avoids completely submerging the garment in solutions, thereby helping to extend its structure and longevity. Considering Brummell also allegedly made “bathing daily” a trend, we’d like to think he’d appreciate our approach to wardrobe cleanliness too. “We work with Sudsies because they go above and beyond. When our clients request cleaning, pressing, or alterations right away, Jason and his team always figure out how to make it happen. Furthermore, their expertise is evident in the way they treat our merchandise. Sudsies understands luxury, both in garment care and customer service, which aligns with the overall experience Brioni is committed to providing our clientele.” – Vito DeGennaro, General Manager, Brioni Bal Harbour
SUDSIES SPOTLIGHT: IT GETS BETTER WITH ANGE CHARLES
dsies aims to set great impressions from start to finish. First impressions in our North Miami boutique begin with Ange Charles. As Front Desk Manager, Ange oversees all customer interactions, and ensures that all the hard work of our cleaning technicians behind the scenes is ultimately presented to the client in the perfect light.
DEALING WITH DESIGNERS
Why It’s Important To Pick The Right Dry Cleaner When It Comes To Your Luxury Wardrobe Items “Pssst, go for Gucci!…” “Yoo hoo, it’s YSL!…” “Over here for some Hermes!” Anyone who has walked by a high-end retailer or specialty department store display can almost certainly relate to the siren calls of these designers. Perhaps that’s why luxury apparel is the top-performing sector amongst the world’s 100 biggest brands, according to global brand consultancy Interbrand. Louis Vuitton and Chanel lead in brand value, while Gucci is cited as among the fastest-growing. Additional labels that fall into the report’s top fashion brands include Hermes, Dior, Burberry, and Prada. The look, feel and workmanship of designer items are undeniable, setting trends while retaining a timelessness. This level of quality and the way you feel wearing it; however, comes with a steep price tag. Such an investment warrants equally exclusive care, making dry cleaner selection an important choice. Not all cleaners have expertise in the proper care of luxury pieces. In fact, very few of them do. So, how can you tell the difference? “Ask questions,” says Sudsies President Jason Loeb. “Do they know what a hand-rolled hem on a scarf is and do they know how to protect it when pressing? Do they know how to hand clean? Do they have specialty equipment that accommodates high-end clothing? Do they offer wet cleaning capabilities… all of these options are necessary to be able to provide care that’s best for the individual garment.” In depth knowledge of fabrics, garment construction, and workmanship, coupled with the proper tools and techniques to care for an item is necessary to avoid exposing the article to complete submersion in solvent and harsh mechanical action. Gentler processes like hygienic steam disinfection, followed by hand-emphasis cleaning on key areas (ie underarms, collars, etc.) and treating stains relieve the stress imposed by commonplace cleaning practices. These time-consuming, yet minimal contact processes avoid wear on the delicate fabrics, hand stitching, and embellishments associated with many luxury wears. Loeb goes on to provide some tips on how to best help your luxury cleaner before bringing an item for care. “When purchasing a designer or custom-made piece, ask for a swatch of the material. We can use this to help us determine how exactly the fabric will react to select cleaning formulations and best make any adjustments if needed. This swatch can also come in handy if you ever experience any rips or tears. Our tailoring team can make a much more seamless repair if they have the original material. The same theory applies to securing any extra beading, thread, buttons, and all other unique embellishments as a safeguard in helping maintain the original integrity of the garment.” Furthermore, try and clean your garments upon wearing them. Loeb explains that while you might not be able to see any visible stains, the fabric is hosting perspiration, body oils, dead skin cells, and airborne contaminants, all of which micro-abrade fibers, oxidize over time, and even become aggravated with delayed cleaning. If you do know there is a stain, make sure to advise your cleaner what it is, so technicians can treat it with the most effective formula to counteract it. Although tempting, try not to remove a stain yourself, for then the technician will have to first remove whatever you used to fix it before actually getting to the original culprit. The sad truth is, that using the wrong pre-treatment could make the stain permanent, remove color, or damage the fibers. Sudsies is a preferred dry cleaner for luxury shopping areas, including Brickell City Centre, The Design District, Bal Harbour, and Lincoln Road. Sudsies’ reputation has become so renowned, that the cleaner receives items daily from clients around the world via its Sudsies Express mailing service. Locally, label lovers can enjoy complimentary pickup and delivery across Miami-Dade county, as well as Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach, or visit one of Sudsies’ boutiques. More information about designer and couture services can be found at sudsies.com. Please dial 305.864.3279 or email [email protected] for any questions, concerns, restoration information, or specific queries and requests regarding your garments. https://youtu.be/1SoctNBXQ6Y?si=sjbY6TM3mz7nhkYi
Honoring Concierges
We work with a lot of building and condominium concierges. We feel a special connection with these individuals, perhaps because we share in their commitment as caretakers for their clients. To honor these bonds, we’ve asked a few to share their experiences working with Sudsies and we were blown away by their kind words. Thank you to these hard-working concierges… Know that the feeling is mutual! Sudsies has been our preferred dry cleaner for more than two years, and we’ve developed a great relationship. They know exactly how to treat high-quality garments and they do it with care. Most importantly, they have very personalized customer service, which is exactly what we seek for our residents. – George Fernandez, Prive Island I always recommend Sudsies, not only for their quality but also because they have a higher level of customer service. They are quick to address any needs with professionalism and positivity, traits I value as a concierge in keeping my residents happy. – James Poitras, Continuum on South Beach, The South Tower I’ve worked with Sudsies, both personally and professionally, since 2007 and haven’t had a single issue for myself or my residents (and I’m very particular about my clothes!). Everyone exemplifies a positive attitude, kindness, and promptness. I’m always greeted with a smile. Our Sudsies valet arrives like clockwork and is always taking care that everyone’s order is running smoothly. – Chauncey Sullivan, Auberge Beach I’ve worked with Sudsies for years. Quite simply, they are there for me. When I reach out, they call back right away and resolve any issues. When a resident has a specific request, such as expediting a delivery, they are always happy to accommodate, which in turn makes me happy and confident to keep recommending them. – Tatiana Echeverri, The Peninsula Aventura Sudsies has the best customer service. With anything we need, Jason and his team are always on top of it. The quality of cleaning and care they have for the garments is excellent. All this together makes them the top dry cleaning company in the area. – Paulo Frassinetti, Palazzo Del Sol Fisher Island Sudsies is the best! The whole team is just superb. There’s no other dry cleaner when it comes to service and quality. Everyone there is so happy. – John Lenis, Muse Residences Jason and his team at Sudsies are extremely affable people. It’s a great partnership. The quality of cleaning, customer service, and other touches all match the upscale standards of our property. With everyone you come across within the company, it’s evident they’ve had impressive training. It makes them stand out from all the other dry cleaners. – Christian Ubilla, Biscayne Beach Sudsies has been great to us since we opened the building in 2017. The fact that they come six days a week has been very convenient for our residents. They love the added amenity of automated scheduling so they don’t have to worry about anything. Everyone that we have worked with at Sudsies is very attentive to our needs and we couldn’t be any more grateful for their service. -, Luis Pagan, Echo Brickell I met Jason the day we opened the property when he came to introduce himself and the Sudsies brand. He’s always been available to us. I just like the fact that he and his team handle everything so top-notch. Victor, who serves our route, knows his craft and is attentive to the details. If a resident or guest has a special request, he can tell us immediately how Sudsies can accommodate, from the garment’s care process to scheduling expectations. They are on top of the order from start to finish. – Jack Damian, Four Seasons Surfside
