Caring for beads, feathers and fringe in Lagos humidity

Most damage to occasion wear happens in the wardrobe, not on the dance floor. Lagos humidity sits above 80% for much of the year, sun through a bedroom window fades colour within months, and a wire hanger will distort a beaded shoulder in a single season. A few habits prevent almost all of it.

After the event

• Let the garment air on a padded hanger overnight before storing it. Trapped sweat and body heat encourage mildew.
• Check for loose beads or snagged fringe while the event is fresh. A single loose thread is a five-minute repair; a lost row is not.
• Spot marks should not be rubbed with water. Water rings on silk and satin and can loosen glued components on accessories.

Cleaning

Embellished pieces should be dry cleaned by someone who handles beadwork. Tell them clearly that the piece is hand beaded before they take it. A standard press flattens beadwork and can crack crystals, and tumbling loosens stitches.

• Feathers: spot clean only, by a specialist. Feathers should not be immersed or pressed. Revive flattened feathers with gentle steam from a distance, never direct heat.
• Fringe and chain: hang the garment so the fringe falls freely while it dries after steaming, and comb it straight with your fingers, never a brush.
• Sequins: never iron directly. If needed, steam from the reverse side.

Storage

• Cotton garment bags, not plastic. Plastic traps moisture, and in this climate that means mildew and yellowing.
• Heavy pieces flat, lighter pieces hung. A fully beaded skirt can pull its own seams if hung for months. Store it folded in acid-free tissue, with tissue between the folds.
• Padded hangers for structured shoulders. Wire and thin plastic hangers leave permanent marks.
• Dark and dry. Keep pieces away from windows. Silica gel sachets in the wardrobe help; replace or dry them out regularly.
• Feathers need air. Store feathered pieces with space around them so the feathers are not crushed.

Travelling with occasion wear

Carry embellished pieces in your cabin luggage, folded around tissue inside a garment bag. Hang them as soon as you arrive and let creases drop overnight with the bathroom steam after a shower, rather than ironing. If you are flying for a wedding, try the garment on the day before, not the morning of.

If a garment smells musty when you take it out, it has been stored too damp. Air it in shade, never in direct sun.

Repairs

We repair beadwork on pieces we have made. Keep any spare beads or crystals that came with your garment; they are matched to your piece. For full care notes by fabric, see our care page.