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
Assesment
First, we review the garment to determine if restoration is viable and cost-effective.
Disassembly
The entire garment is carefully taken apart. The seams are opened, trims removed and panels separated.
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.
Reassembling
The garment is then re-sewn with extreme care, sometimes incorporating custom alterations to achieve the final form.
PLEATING REPAIRS: BEOFRE AND AFTER
Before
After