The Complete Guide to Caring for Your Bespoke Formal Wear

Your Bespoke Dress Deserves Bespoke Care

You've invested in bespoke womenswear that fits perfectly, celebrates your heritage, and makes you feel extraordinary. Now, proper care ensures your dress remains as stunning as the day you first wore it, ready for your next special occasion and many celebrations to come.

At Ohifumere, every garment we create represents hours of craftsmanship, carefully selected fabrics, and personalized design. Treating your bespoke dress with care isn't just about maintenance, it's about honoring the artistry and extending the life of clothing made specifically for you.

Understanding Your Garment's Fabric

Before implementing any care routine, check your garment's care label. Different fabrics require different approaches:

• Natural Fibres (Silk, Wool, Cotton): Generally require gentle cleaning, cool water, and careful handling

• Embellished Garments: Often require professional dry cleaning due to beading, embroidery, or delicate appliqué work

• Cultural Fabrics: African wax prints, Aso-Oke, and other traditional textiles may have specific care requirements based on their production methods

Between-Wear Care: Daily Habits That Extend Garment Life

Airing Out

After wearing your bespoke garment, hang it in a well-ventilated area for 24-48 hours before storing. This allows:

• Natural fibres to breathe and release moisture

• Any odours to dissipate naturally

• Fabric to recover its shape and drape

Brushing

Use a soft-bristle garment brush to gently remove dust, lint, and surface particles after each wear. Brush in the direction of the fabric weave to avoid damaging delicate fibres.

Spot Treatment

Address spills immediately by blotting (never rubbing) with a clean, damp cloth. For silk or satin, never attempt to spot-treat stains yourself, this can cause permanent damage. Take stained garments to professional dry cleaners promptly.

Cleaning Your Bespoke Formal Wear

Professional Dry Cleaning

For most luxury occasion wear, professional dry cleaning is the safest option. However, limit dry cleaning to once or twice per season maximum excessive cleaning strips natural oils from fabrics and can weaken fibres.

When choosing a dry cleaner:

• Seek specialists experienced with formal wear and delicate fabrics

• Mention any embellishments, cultural fabrics, or special construction details

• Request gentle, eco-friendly cleaning methods

• Ask them to inspect buttons, beading, and embroidery before cleaning

Hand Washing (When Appropriate)

Some garments with "Dry Clean" (not "Dry Clean Only") labels can be hand-washed:

• Fill a clean basin with cool water and delicate-specific detergent

• Test for colour fastness on an interior seam first

• Gently agitate for 3-5 minutes maximum

• Rinse thoroughly in cool water

• Never wring or twist, gently squeeze excess water

• Roll in clean towel to absorb moisture

• Lay flat on dry towel to air dry away from direct sunlight

Never hand-wash garments with:

• Extensive beading or embellishments

• Multiple fabric layers or complex construction

• Bright colours that may bleed

• "Dry Clean Only" labels

Proper Storage: Protecting Your Investment

Hanging vs. Folding

For bespoke dresses, proper hanging is essential:

• Use broad, padded wooden hangers that support shoulder shape

• Ensure hangers are wide enough to prevent fabric stress

• Never use wire hangers, they distort garment shape

• For heavy gowns, consider specialty dress hangers with additional skirt support

Some heavily embellished pieces may be better folded to prevent stress on shoulder seams. If folding:

• Use acid-free tissue paper between folds

• Refold periodically in different positions to prevent permanent creasing

• Store flat in breathable cotton storage boxes

Garment Bags

Protect your bespoke formal wear pieces with proper garment bags:

• Choose breathable cotton or muslin bags, never plastic

• Plastic traps moisture, leading to mildew and odours

• Ensure bags are clean before storing garments

• For long-term storage, add natural moth deterrents (cedar blocks, lavender sachets)

Storage Environment

Store formal wear in:

• Cool, dry, well-ventilated spaces

• Areas with consistent temperature (avoid attics or basements with extreme fluctuations)

• Dark areas away from direct sunlight (prevents fabric fading)

• Spaces with adequate room between garments (prevents wrinkles and allows air circulation)

Seasonal Care Considerations

Between Seasons

When storing event dresses between seasons:

• Ensure garments are completely clean before storage

• Allow adequate air drying if professionally cleaned

• Use fresh garment bags and moth deterrents

• Check periodically (every 2-3 months) for signs of moths or moisture

• Refold or rehang to prevent permanent creasing

Before Wearing Again

After seasonal storage:

• Remove from garment bag and air out for 24-48 hours

• Steam gently to remove any storage wrinkles

• Inspect for any damage requiring repair

• Ensure garment still fits properly (bodies change!)

Pressing and Steaming

Steaming is gentler than ironing for most formal fabrics:

• Use handheld steamer held several inches from fabric

• Work in vertical motions with the grain

• Particularly effective for silk, satin, and delicate embellishments

• Never steam velvet, use professional pressing services

If Ironing is Necessary:

• Always check fabric care instructions first

• Use lowest appropriate heat setting

• Iron on reverse side when possible

• Place pressing cloth between iron and fabric

• For silk, iron while still slightly damp

Handling Embellishments and Cultural Elements

Beaded or Embroidered Garments

Bespoke culturally-inspired outfits often feature intricate beadwork or embroidery requiring special attention:

• Never iron directly over beading or embroidery

• Store with tissue paper protecting embellished areas

• Professional cleaning is essential

• Inspect regularly for loose threads or beads needing repair

Traditional Fabrics

Cultural fabrics have unique characteristics:

• Wax prints may bleed colour, always test before washing

• Metallic threads require dry cleaning

• Cultural embellishment techniques may have specific care needs

• Consult with your designer about any traditional fabric considerations

Repair and Maintenance

Regular Inspections

Check your custom dresses regularly for:

• Loose buttons or fastenings

• Loose threads or embellishment

• Small tears or weak seams

• Hem damage or fraying

• Lining issues

• Prompt Repairs

Address small issues immediately before they escalate:

• Re-stitch loose buttons

• Repair small tears promptly

• Replace worn linings

• Reinforce stress points

At Ohifumere, we offer complimentary alterations within 14 days of delivery and can provide ongoing maintenance services for your bespoke pieces. Regular professional care ensures your investment remains perfect.

Travel Care

Traveling with Bespoke Formal Wear:

• Use specialized garment travel bags with handles

• Hand-carry formal wear when possible (avoid checking luggage)

• Hang immediately upon arrival

• Steam out travel wrinkles

• Research professional pressing services at destination if needed

Perfume and Cosmetics

Protect your formal wear from:

• Perfume (spray before dressing, never directly on fabric)

• Makeup (use clothing protectors while applying)

• Deodorant (allow to dry completely before dressing)

• Hair products (style hair before putting on dress)

Creating a Care Kit

Assemble a formal wear care kit including:

• Soft-bristle garment brush

• Gentle fabric cleaner for spot treatment

• Clean white cloths for blotting

• Garment steamer

• Padded hangers

• Breathable garment bags

• Sewing kit for minor repairs

• Professional dry cleaner contact information

The Investment Perspective

Quality bespoke pieces represent significant investment. Proper care:

• Extends garment lifespan by years or decades

• Reduces cost-per-wear dramatically

• Maintains perfect fit and appearance

• Protects resale or heirloom value

• Ensures readiness for multiple special occasions

Ohifumere After-Care Support

We don't just create your perfect dress, we support its lifetime:

• Detailed care instructions specific to your garment

• Ongoing alteration services as your body changes

• Storage advice for your specific fabrics and construction

Care as Celebration

Caring for your bespoke womenswear is an extension of the celebration that garment represents. Each time you brush away dust, steam out wrinkles, or store your dress carefully, you're honoring the occasion it marked, the confidence it gave you, and the craftsmanship that created it.

Your bespoke dress deserves care as thoughtful as its creation. These practices ensure that the garment celebrating your graduation, your keynote speech, your milestone birthday, or your cultural celebration remains ready to celebrate you again and again.

Need care guidance for your Ohifumere garment? Contact us anytime with questions about cleaning, storage, or maintenance. We're here to ensure your bespoke pieces remain as extraordinary as the day they were created.

Ohifumere: Creating lasting beauty through exceptional care and craftsmanship.