SINCE 1953
Textile Conservation and Restoration House World War II Silk Escape Map From Margaret’s “America 250” Booklet
STABILIZATION, REPAIR & RESTORATION Conservation Expertise for Museums, Collectors & Historic Collections
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or more than seventy years, Margaret’s has helped preserve some of America’s most significant garments, textiles, and historic objects. Museums, private collectors, historical societies, auction houses, estates, and luxury retailers trust our specialists to clean, stabilize, restore, and preserve items that cannot simply be replaced.
any treatment is recommended. Our approach emphasizes: • Minimal intervention • Preservation of original materials & construction • Thorough condition documentation
Chuck & John Horst at Margaret’s Plant Every textile tells a story. Whether caring for a nineteenth-century military uniform, an Oscar gown, a couture wedding dress, a theatrical costume, or an important family heirloom, our objective is always the same—to preserve the artifact while respecting its history, craftsmanship, and provenance.
• Reversible treatment methods when appropriate • Customized cleaning based on fiber identification & construction • Long-term preservation recommendations
Our conservators and restoration specialists work with natural fibers, historic textiles, leather, suede, lace, beading, embroidery, feathers, metallic threads, and other fragile materials using customized treatment plans designed for each individual object.
Our Conservation Philosophy Every project begins with careful examination and documentation before 2
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PRESERVATION & COLLECTIONS CONSULTING Rather than applying standardized cleaning methods, every treatment is developed specifically for the artifact’s condition, age, materials, and intended future use.
Trusted by Museums & Collectors Nationwide Specialized Conservation Services Margaret’s provides conservation and restoration services for: • Historic costumes and couture fashion • Wedding gowns and ceremonial attire • Military uniforms • Vintage and designer garments • Ethnographic and cultural textiles • Ecclesiastical vestments • Historic flags and banners • Tapestries and decorative textiles • Antique lace and embroidered textiles • Contemporary fiber art • Luxury leather garments and accessories • Designer handbags and shoes • Textile artifacts for museums and institutional collections
Margaret’s has partnered with museums, collectors, conservators, estates, & institutions throughout the United States on projects involving exhibition preparation, long-term preservation, disaster recovery, and historic textile restoration.
Our work has included significant museum exhibitions, presidential collections, historically important garments, and culturally significant artifacts requiring specialized handling and documentation. 3
STABILIZATION, REPAIR & RESTORATION leather, textiles, and delicate artifacts using the least aggressive treatment appropriate for each object.
Stabilization & Repair Structural repairs, conservation stitching, reinforcement, stain reduction, mold remediation, water damage recovery, insect damage repair, & treatment of fragile textiles while preserving original construction when possible.
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istoric textiles continue to age long after they are created. Proper cleaning, stabilization, storage, and environmental control are essential for extending their lifespan and preserving them for future generations. Margaret’s offers comprehensive collections care designed for both private collectors and institutional clients.
Collection Care Services Cleaning & Restoration Customized conservation cleaning for historic garments, couture fashion,
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Documentation Detailed condition reporting, photographic documentation, treatment recommendations, and post-treatment records suitable for collectors, museums, insurers, and estates.
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PRESERVATION & COLLECTIONS CONSULTING Services to Museums & Collectors
Preservation Consulting Experts in handling, transportation, exhibition preparation, packing, storage materials, environmental conditions, & long-term care.
• More than 70 years of textile expertise • Family-owned & operated since 1953 • Trusted by museums, libraries, collectors, & luxury brands including: – San Diego History Center – FIDM Los Angeles – Ronald Reagan Library & Museum – Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London – Norman Tipton, Collector – Denver Art Museum (As of October 2026) – Norman Tipton, Collector – Esse Purse Museum, Little Rock, AK – Fashion Archives & Museum of Shippensburg University – Couture Pattern Museum – Academy Museum of LA, Marilyn Monroe Collection, Julien’s Auctions
Archival Storage Margaret’s offers climate-controlled archival storage for garments, costumes, and textile collections requiring long-term preservation.
Storage Options Include: • Climate & humidity monitoring • UV-protected environments • Archival garment housing • Secure monitored facilities • Collection inventory assistance • Customized storage solutions for private & institutional collections. Whether preserving a single heirloom wedding gown or an extensive museum collection, every item receives individualized care to protect both its physical integrity & historical significance.
Margaret’s is a national service with secure shipping throughout the United States. They are awardwinning restoration and preservation specialists, have a conservationminded treatment philosophy, and offer advanced cleaning technologies selected specifically for each artifact.
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HER ICONIC COCKTAIL DRESS A Cleaning, Restoration & Conservation Auction Collaboration
& THE DRESS: The Dress for Marilyn Monroe, Designed by Jean Louis
HISTORY:
Worn by Marilyn Monroe at a Press Conference to Promote The Misfits (1960). DESIGNER: Academy Award-Winning Designer, Jean Louis VALUE: Auction $65,000 Signature Logo Credit: Pinterest/PngFind 6
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Jean Louis Designer Label
FILM:
The Misfits was Monroe’s last completed film with Clark Gable & Montgomery Clift. The dress was worn at a promotional Press Conference for the film.
DESIGN: Cream/beige silk jersey with hand-painted watercolor pattern DETAILS: Circular rippling motifs in magenta, green, and brown AUTHENTICATION: Original Jean Louis label with “#2 MM” notation THE REQUEST: Margaret’s team was asked to remove extensive staining and restore the dress to its near-original condition.
PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENCE Margaret’s & Julien’s Auctions Collaboration WHY IT MATTERS: • Sets standard for auction house-conservator partnerships • Ensures proper care of culturally significant garments • Preserves Hollywood heritage for collectors
Marilyn Monroe & Clark Gable at a Press Conference for The Misfits (1960)
“Proper conservation is essential to preserving the legacy of Hollywood’s classic costumes and garments.” margarets.com • (866) 454-2375
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex, 1939 Starring Bette Davis
Note the trim shape of the actress...over the intervening years someone had added inches to the size using trims to enlarge the garment. Our primary goal was to repair rips and restore the costume’s original size.
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex, 1939 Starring Bette Davis
After Restoration
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From New York, New York 1977 Starring Liza Minnelli & Robert De Niro, Director Martin Scorsese Liza’s Emerald Green Evening Dress with Draped Skirt. Badly Stained with Damaged Sequined Embroidery
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From New York, New York 1977 Starring Liza Minnelli & Robert De Niro, Director Martin Scorsese
After Restoration Stain Free & Embroidery Repaired
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From The Crusades, 1935 Starring Loretta Young, Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
Before – Hundreds of seed pearls in several places on the gown were missing. In addition, the fur trim of the cape had been lost.
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From The Crusades 1935 Starring Loretta Young, Directed by Cecil B. DeMille After Restoration The seed pearls were meticulously replaced and fur trim was partially recreated due to lack of materials. The restored gown approaches the design intended by Travis Banton, one of the most sought-after Hollywood costume designers of the era.
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From Jeanne Eagels, 1957 • Starring Kim Novak
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VINTAGE COSTUMES From Jeanne Eagels, 1957 • Starring Kim Novak After Restoration
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VINTAGE AND HEIRLOOM APPAREL Restoration of a Vintage Christening Gown
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VINTAGE AND HEIRLOOM APPAREL Restoration of a Vintage Bridal Gown from 1953
A Few of Margaret’s Awards & Recognition • Accessories Council Design Excellence Award – Sustainability Winner • CINET Retail Textile Cleaning USA Award • CINET Country Award • Drycleaning & Laundry Institute Awards for Excellence and Plant Design
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VINTAGE GARMENTS AND UNIFORMS A Collection of Vintage Military Uniforms — Cleaned & Preserved
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The Rescue of a Newer Uniform Attacked by Mold
VINTAGE AND HEIRLOOM APPAREL Native American Garment
Before
After
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VINTAGE AND HEIRLOOM APPAREL Cleaning and Restoration of an Ornate Religious Crown.
The gold/tan fabric is elaborately embroidered with religious symbols, including crosses and decorative leaf or branch patterns, which required delicate, least invasive treatments to maintain integrity and authenticity. It has the distinctive rounded dome shape characteristic of headwear, and the embroidery technique and pattern arrangements suggest that it’s a historical or ceremonial piece. The style and craftsmanship suggest that it has significant religious and cultural importance, perhaps an Orthodox Priest’s Crown.
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VINTAGE AND HEIRLOOM APPAREL Religious Vestments
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VINTAGE HANDBAG Before
After
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NOTE: Brand Logos in this book are used for illustrative purposes only and do not signify an endorsement by nor an affiliation with any of the brands listed.
VINTAGE VASSAR CLUTCH
WATER DAMAGE
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LEATHER RESTORATION SERVICES
our leather and suede treasures deserve the same meticulous care given to museum pieces. Whether it’s a vintage designer handbag, heirloom furniture, rare books, or cherished family artifacts, Margaret’s Museum-Grade Leather and Suede Conservation Service provides the specialized preservation your valuable items need. We understand that your collection represents more than monetary value—these pieces hold personal history, memories, and irreplaceable significance. Our expert conservators can restore and preserve everything from antique leather-bound volumes and vintage accessories to family heirlooms and collectibles passed down through generations.
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Our Personal Collection Care Service maintains your leather treasures with gentle hand cleaning, conditioning, and stabilization techniques that protect their integrity while preserving their character. For items requiring more extensive work, our Complete Restoration Service offers thorough cleaning, careful color restoration, professional conditioning, and archival-grade treatments that can bring even severely deteriorated pieces back to life. Every item receives the same institutional-quality care, and we return your restored pieces in custom archival storage containers with proper humidity control— ensuring your collection remains protected for years to come. Because your treasures deserve nothing less than museum-quality preservation.
After margarets.com • (866) 454-2375
MOLDY BOOTS
Befores
Afters
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VINTAGE TIFFANY TRAVEL CLOCK Befores
Afters
VINTAGE TRAVEL MIRROR
Before After
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VINTAGE LUGGAGE RESTORTION
Before
After
VINTAGE BRIEFCASE
Before
After
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VINTAGE GARMENT RESTORTION Repair a Vintage Cashmere Jacket Befores
Afters
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VINTAGE GARMENT RESTORTION Befores
Lamb and Mink Jacket Damage Repaired
Afters
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WEDDING KIMONO
his striking garment is a traditional Japanese Uchikake, a highly formal outer kimono worn primarily as a bridal over-robe or for formal stage performances. Unlike a standard kimono, an uchikake is meant to be worn open over the base kimono layers without being cinched by an obi (belt). It features a padded, weighted hem that creates a dramatic, sweeping silhouette as it trails along the floor.
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E
GILBERT ADRIAN and the Art of Graphic Design
xperience the intersection of Hollywood glamour and graphic ingenuity in this stunning piece by the legendary Gilbert Adrian. On special exhibit this fall at FIDM Los Angeles, this dress is a tour de force of visual play. Adrian, famed for dressing the stars of the Silver Screen, brings his cinematic sensibility to this daytime garment, transforming the wearer into a walking work of art. The dress is a witty exploration of patterns, where polka dots are deconstructed and reimagined as blocks and strips of bold graphic color. It’s a bold statement of confidence, a playful nod to mid-century modernism, and a reminder of Adrian’s unmatched genius in creating fashion that is as intellectual as it is alluring.
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SMOKE & ODOR RESTORATION
S
moke and odor restoration of couture garments and accessories is a Margaret’s specialty. Not all restoration jobs are the same. Garment damage that occurs during and after a fire, for example, requires a wide variety of expertise and a diverse range of technologies and equipment. The type of treatment best suited for any single item is influenced by many factors including the fire temperature, the presence of food, plastic, chemical odors and the amount of moisture exposure. Margaret’s Restoration Service has the nation’s broadest spectrum of cleaning and remediation technologies. In addition specialized experts on staff understand what is needed to assure the best possible results for fine textiles of all types, including leather and suede, window treatments, handbags, shoes, vintage dolls and all fine clothing and accessories. After
Before
Smoke Damage to an Italian Casmere Sweater Moth Damaged Knit
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After margarets.com • (866) 454-2375
VINTAGE DOLL RESTORATION Before
We pay attention to the details of those things we remember best.
After
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TEXTILE RESTORATION
Before from the Backside
After from the Front
Ready to Framing Again 34
VINTAGE LACE RESTORATION
HOUSEHOLD TEXTILE REPAIRS
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100-YEAR-OLD GARNET LAMP
Garnets from Lamp, before and after
“Clear” beads from Lamp, before and after
The lamp was completely dismantled, and missing and broken beads were replaced. It was then carefully reconstructed with a similar bead pattern using the newly cleaned garnets and clear beads.
BELOW: The Restored Vintage Lamp
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HOUSEHOLDS & RUGS Before
14’ x 17’ Hand Woven Area Rug
After
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CLEAN BY MAIL® WORLDWIDE
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on’t trust your treasured articles to an unproven dry cleaner or shoe repair shop. Margaret’s worldwide CleanByMail® service cleans and/or repairs your handbags, ties, leathers, suedes, sweaters, knits, and even preserves wedding gowns, easily and safely no matter where you live. We’ve developed custom shipping boxes and carefully package each garment properly for protection. In addition, you can submit an estimate request on our website (along with photos of your item) as well as obtain a CleanByMail® request form to accompany your order. Video consultations for advice are available with one of our expert technicians. If your home or business is located outside our Southern California pickup and delivery areas, you can now ship items to our CleanByMail® service using UPS. This provides a convenient way to send cleaning or repairs to us. With over 4,900 UPS Store® locations, professional couture garment care has never been easier. It’s like having 4,900 Margaret’s drop off locations. Return shipments will come directly to you. Submit an Estimate Request 38
Visit Our CleanByMail Page for Details.
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MUSEUM-GRADE STORAGE & CARE
Climate & Humidity Controlled Archival Storage Facilities
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ince preserving historical textiles and valuable collections require specialized environments, Margaret’s offers dedicated archival storage facilities specifically designed for museums and serious collectors. Our climate-controlled repositories can accommodate collections of any size and scope, including individual garments and textile artifacts. Our museum-standard positive pressure environmental control systems ensure artifacts remain contamination-free, with precise humidity and temperature regulation tailored to textile conservation requirements. All facilities feature: • Archival-quality storage methods meeting institutional standards • UV-filtered lighting systems to prevent color degradation
• State-of-the-art fire suppression technology designed for irreplaceable collections • Comprehensive documentation and cataloging services For institutions undergoing renovation, collection transfers, or specialized conservation projects, our facilities provide the secure, controlled environment Multi-Spectrum necessary for inspections check for special cleaning issues long-term preservation of historically significant and high-value textile collections.
• Monitored security systems with 24-hour surveillance margarets.com • (866) 454-2375
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SINCE 1953
MARGARET’S LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO HEADQUARTERS NATIONWIDE CleanByMail 5150 Convoy Street San Diego, CA 92111
LA JOLLA
NEWPORT BEACH
LOS ANGELES
DEL MAR/RANCHO SANTA FE
7511 La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla, CA 92037
2272 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064
1831 Westcliff Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660
3790 Via De La Valle, #213 Del Mar, CA 92014
NEW YORK & NATIONWIDE
Katia Graytok, CMO Contact for Media, PR & Communications 732.208.8185 • katiag@margarets.com
July 2026
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margarets.com • 866.454.2375 General Inquiries: info@margarets.com