Your Garment Has Lived A Life!

All garments are handmade using second-hand and vintage materials. Some degree of spotting and imperfections are to be expected. I will often patch over stains I can not remove. These are covered from the outside, but may still be visible inside the garment. These materials have lived a life and some of them show it. This adds to the charm, character and uniqueness of the piece!

How Do I Wash My Garments?

Handwashing is always recommended! Delicate fibers can fray and tear in washers and dryers. Fill a tub with lukewarm water, add a mild soap (not regular laundry detergent) and gently agitate with your hands, then soak for about 10 minutes. Rinse with clean water. DO NOT RING DRY. Do a light squeeze to release some of the water and roll in a towel to remove the rest. Hang dry.

If your piece has any hand embroidering on it DO NOT introduce hot water or a lot of hot steam. I’ve come across vintage embroidery flosses that will bleed color under these conditions.

What if my piece was crocheted? The process is mostly the same: hand wash in cold water with a gentle detergent like baby shampoo or castile soap. Gently rub the item in the soapy water, then drain and rinse with fresh, cold water until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out as much water as you can without wringing or twisting, then lay the project flat to dry.

What If My Garment Needs Mending?

I will mend any Elsie’s Attic garment for you for the life of the garment at no cost. You read that right! A core principle of Elsie’s Attic is to keep textiles out of landfills and keep clothes we love in our closets for as long as possible. That means tears, holes, busted seams or broken zippers. Note that mending is not the same as altering (changing the garment’s style, size or proportions).

Any other mends, very extensive fixes or covering stains acquired through wear will have a fee, but this is based on the project so please email me (nicoledaberkow@gmail.com) or use my contact form for a quote.

I sometimes will mend garments that are not Elsie’s Attic, but I reserve these for in-person shows and events. Please follow @elsiesattic_ on IG for the next in-person mending opportunity!

Do You Offer Returns?

Yes! Elsie’s Attic will take back items that do not fit properly and offer store credit in return. The buyer will be responsible for shipping the item/s both ways. Please read all item descriptions and carefully measure yourself to minimize the need to return. I’m a very small operation (like, just me!), and processing returns takes time away from creating new pieces. If you need to return something, please email nicoledaberkow@gmail.com for further instructions.