Garment Repleating and Pleated Garment Restoration

Some garments are simply too special not to save. Wedding dresses, couture pieces, sentimental items or pleated creations are often passed down from another era. Over time, the pleats in these garments may relax or open up due to wear, improper storage, or dry cleaning. At International Pleating, we offer one of the rarest and most technically complex services the industry: garment repleating. 

What is Garment Repleating? 

Garment repleating involves fully disassembling a pleated garment , carefully removing all previous pleats, and repleating the fabric before reassembling the piece. This is not a minor repair; It's often more difficult than constructing the original garment, as we are working within tighter margins and without wiggle room that seam allowances normally provide. 

Fabrics That Often Require Repleating: 

• Silk
• Cotton
• Leather
• Linen
• Denim
• Couture Fabrics: Many high-end or hand-pleated garments were never meant to be cleaned traditionally. Often their condition suffers when they have been treated this way. 

The Process: 

1. Assessment: We review the garment to determine if restoration is viable and cost-effective.
2. Disassembly: The entire garment is carefully taken apart. The seams are opened, trims removed and panels separated. 
3. Pressing and Repleating: Each panel is carefully pressed and repleated using high-precision molds, other techniques and sometimes custom molds which allow us to closely match the original pleat style and size. 
4. Reassembly: The garment is then re-sewn with extreme care, sometimes incorporating custom alterations to achieve the final form. 

Important Notes: 

• Timeline: The repleating process is time-intensive. Standard turn around time is measured in months, not weeks. Rush services are available at an additional cost. 
• Precision and Variability:

1. Exact original pleat placement is rarely achievable unless museum-level restoration is requested (which greatly increases the cost)   
2. Slight pleat shifts may reveal discoloration, especially on white or pale garments. 
3. You may lose up to 1/2 inch in garment length during repleating 

Cost Considerations: 

• This is a high skill, high cost service best reserved for garments of significant value. 
• Pricing may start at several thousand dollars and, in some cases, exceed tens of thousands , especially for historical or archival pieces.