Sentimental Preservation

I had my wedding dress cleaned, repaired and preserved by Simone. I wanted to meet and hire the actual person who would be doing the work as I was concerned for the risk to my dress, having layers of tulle and lots of beading and crystals on it. Her website states: “That's why at Sentimental Preservation by Simone, you will receive personal one-on-one service inherent with such a decision.” I did not realize she contracted out the cleaning and sewing work to unknown parties. She quoted me one month or less to repair the dress. After one month I had not heard from her so I emailed to ask if it was ready. She said it was and I could come pick it up.



I received my dress back, although Simone did not look over the dress thoroughly with me when I picked it up. She only showed me a few clean areas. The dress had already been packed in the box with paper in between the layers so it was not possible to take it out and inspect it completely. She also does not have an area large enough to inspect the dress before taking it home, although she requires that you do this. Once it leaves her premises she takes no responsibility for the condition of the dress.



When I got home I was able to open the box and check the dress more completely. I found areas of the lace that were still dirty and they had not been mentioned or explained to me by Simone. I also found that the repair for the tear at the bustle I had requested to be fixed was simply folded over and sewed at that spot, making a noticeable and awkward seam that did not blend with the rest of the dress. Most distressing was that I also found a significant NEW tear in the lace that had not been noticed or mentioned to me by Simone. Since I do not trust the cleaning and sewing contractors she uses, I now have to find a way to fix the bungled repair of original tear in the bustle and also the NEW tear, as well as needing to spot clean 2 areas of the dress that remain dirty.



I do not think Simone checks the dresses thoroughly for cleanliness when they come back from the cleaners, and I don’t think she inspects the repair work when it comes back from the seamstress. It seems she either does not understand the type of sewing needed to effectively repair delicate and sentimental items, or her standards are just not very high. I can understand if some areas are not able to become clean, but I expected to have them pointed out and explained if they remained dirty. I don’t know if the new tear occurred at the cleaners, the seamstress, or in Simone’s property. It seems she does not know either as she said she hadn’t noticed it – meaning she hadn’t even thoroughly checked the dress before packing it.



I sent her pictures of the damaged areas and I have asked for reimbursement for the repairs I need to have made by someone I trust, but have not yet received a response. I have also not received an apology for the shoddy seam work or the NEW tear that occurred while in her care, or a clear explanation about the areas that remain dirty. She did not check the dress so she doesn’t know if they were missed in the cleaning process, or if they just couldn’t come clean, even though the rest of the lace did come clean. She did not show a high level of quality professionalism, knowledge or transparency with her lack of attention to the dress itself or to the issues that have occurred from her work.



I paid a large amount, trusting Simone was better than the rest and that my dress would be in good hands. That was not the case. I will say the dress is preserved well and I trust her work and knowledge of preservation materials and methods, and in her embroidery/monogramming. It seems the cleaning and repairing of the dresses is not her strong suit and she does not work with trustworthy contractors in those areas.