>>> WHEN I THINK OF FASHION IN COLUMBUS, I THINK OF STORES LIKE LAZARUS BECAUSE IT WAS AN ICONIC STORE TO GO FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND SPECIAL CLOTHES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF, JAVIER?

>> WHEN I THINK OF SPECIAL CLOTHES, IT IS TALITH.

WE WOULD GO THERE TO GET CLOTHES FOR CONCERTS AND PARTIES.

YEAH, I LOVED IT.

STILL THERE TODAY.

>> OKAY.

THERE IT IS.

SO TODAY WE'RE EXPLORING FASHION THROUGHOUT COLUMBUS HISTORY.

>> WHO BETTER TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THAN THE EXPERTS.

PRODUCER DIANA BERGEMANN HEADS OVER THERE NOW TO LOOK OVER A PIECES OF HISTORICAL CLOTHING IN THEIR ARCHIVES.

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>> WHEN YOU VISIT ANY MUSEUM, THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLECTIONS ON DISPLAY.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE COLLECTIONS IN STORES THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

TODAY THEY ARE LETTING US INTO THEIR VAULT TO LOOK AT ONE OF THOSE COLLECTIONS.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SHOW US.

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>> SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE THINGS IN YOUR COLLECTION.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY?

>> SO RIGHT HERE ON THE TABLE, WE HAVE TWO SAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S DRESSES FROM THE 19th CENTURY.

MORE OR LESS FROM THE 1860s.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE OLDER OF THE TWO.

THIS IS COMING IN FROM A LITTLE BOY THAT LIVED IN CLARK COUNTY, AND HIS FAMILY WERE FARMERS.

AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN WORN WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD IN ABOUT 1968.

MOST CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 6 ACTUALLY WORE A DRESS REGARDLESS IF YOU WERE A BOY OR GIRL.

IT WAS JUST EASIER FOR PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN WITH DIAPER CHANGING, POTTY TRAINING AND LETTING THEM MOVE AROUND IN A DRESS AS OPPOSED TO PANTS.

THIS IS FROM A LITTLE GIRL, A FAMILY FROM THE REFORMED MENONITE CHURCH.

SHE WOULD HAVE BORN THIS AROUND 1862, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 3 AND 4 AND IT WAS LIKELY PASSED DOWN TO MANY OF HER SIBLINGS AFTER THAT.

>> HOW DID YOU GET A HOLD OF THESE ITEMS?

>> THEY CAME FROM DONATIONS.

WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THIS DRESS FROM THOMAS' DAUGHTER GRACE, WHO WAS BORN IN 1907.

TOWARDS THE END OF HER LIFE IN THE 1980s, SHE DECIDED TO PART WITH A LOT OF HER FAMILY'S HAIR LOOMS.

WE GOT THIS IN THE MID-1980s AS WELL, PEOPLE PARTING WITH TREASURES THEY KEPT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> HOW LONG DID BOYS WEAR DRESSES UNTIL?

>> UNTIL 5 OR 6, DEPENDING ON IF THEY WERE STARTING TO WORK ON THE FARM OR GOING TO SCHOOL.

IT WAS KNOWN AS BREACHING.

THEY WERE TYPICALLY SHORT PANTS, KNEE LENGTH.

IT WAS JUST A SIGN THEY WERE GROWING UP AND GETTING CLOSER TO MANHOOD AND MOVING ON AND OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY AND STARTING TO PARTICIPATE MORE IN LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE FARM.

>> WHAT DECADE DID THAT TRADITION GO AWAY OF BOYS WEARING DRESSES?

>> IT FELTFILTERED OUT.

IT DECLINED IN POPULARITY IN THE 1890s.

THERE WAS A POPULAR LITERARY CHARACTER THAT WORE A BLUE VELVET SUIT.

BUT PROBABLY BY ABOUT 1900, YOU SEE IT LESS AND LESS.

BY 1920 IT WAS PRETTY MUCH GONE.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS DRESS YOU THINK IS UNIQUE?

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE DRESS, IT WAS REALLY POPULAR TO HAVE LITTLE BUTTONS, CHINA BUTTONS PRINTED WITH CALICO PATTERNS TO BLEND IN WITH THE DRESS.

THE IDEA BEING YOU WOULDN'T SEE THE CLOSURE WHATSOEVER.

>> THESE ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF CLOTHING FOR 19th CENTURY KIDS.

DO YOU HAVE ADULT CHILDREN TO SHOW US?

>> I HAVE BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

>> GREAT.

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>> SO I SEE TWO COATS.

WHAT ERAS ARE THESE FROM?

>> TWO VERY DIFFERENT ERAS.

THIS IS A MEN'S DRESS FORMAL UNIFORM COAT FROM 1900 TO ABOUT 1904.

AND THIS IS A WOMAN'S JUST EVERY DAY WEAR COAT FROM ABOUT 1965.

SO LET'S START WITH THIS COAT.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT WHERE THIS CAME FROM?

>> YES.

THIS COAT WAS WORN BY HENRY CLAY TAYLOR.

HE WAS APPOINTED JUDGE GENERAL AND SERVED FROM 1900 TO ABOUT 1904.

THIS WOULD BE HIS FORMAL OCCASION COAT MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE.

THIS WAS MADE BY THE MC LILY COMPANY, WHICH WAS A HUGE MANUFACTURER OF UNIFORMS FOR POLICE OFFICERS, CONDUCTORS OF TRAINS, MANY, MANY TYPES OF PROFESSIONS.

THIS IS AN OLDER STYLE COAT.

IT WOULD HAVE HAD GOLD EP LETS COME WITH IT.

IF YOU GET A CLOSE LOOK, YOU CAN TELL HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS POSITION BECAUSE HE HAD BUTTONS THAT WERE THE STATE SEAL OF OHIO.

>> WAS THIS TAILERED FOR HIM.

>> IT IS MADE FROM HIS MEASUREMENTS.

IT WAS TAILER WAS LARGER IN THE FRONT THAN IN THE BACK.

IN ORDER TO GET THE COAT TO LAY DIRECTLY, THERE IS THIS BELT SEWN ON THE INSIDE TO HOLD IT NICE AND TIGHT AGAINST HIS BACK AND BUILT IN WITH EXTRA PADDING TO HELP IT SIT THROUGH THE FRONT.

>> SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE WOMEN'S COAT.

CAN YOU GIVE ME BACKGROUND ON THAT?

>> YES.

THIS WAS PURCHASED IN ABOUT 1965.

IT IS INDICATIVE OF THE STYLES OF THE TIME.

IT IS DOUBLE BREASTED.

IT HAS FULL LENGTH SLEEVES.

IT REALLY HAS THAT MOD LOOK THAT WAS POPULAR AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> NOW, WAS THIS TAILERED, OR WAS THIS THE TIME OF READY MADE.

>> THIS WILL BE READY MADE AND MASS PRODUCED.

THE THINGS WERE KNOWN FOR BEING HIGH QUALITY.

WHILE THEY WERE COMPETITORS, THEY WEREN'T IN THE SAME MARKET.

THEY HAD DIVERSE DEPARTMENTS.

>> WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES FROM MORE TAILERED TO READY MADE?

>> READY MADE CERTAINLY MADE THINGS EASIER TO BUY AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUY.

THE THING THAT SPURRED THAT MOVEMENT IS THE MOVEMENT FROM WOMEN'S CLOTHING BEING SO TIGHTLY FITTED VIA THE CORSETTE AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO FORM FITTING.

THAT STARTS IN THE 1900 AND CONTINUES TO TODAY.

>> SO YOU START TO HAVE YOUR FIRST ARTIFICIAL SILKS AT THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY.

AS THEY IMPROVE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF RAYON ON NYLON, IT BECOMES EXPECTED TO HAVE MORE PIECES OF CLOTHING.

LAUNDERING WAS EASIER.

ONCE YOU HAVE WASHING MACHINES, IT IS MUCH, MUCH FASTER.

SO IT MADE THE WORK EASIER, AND IT MADE IT SIMPLER TO PURCHASE MORE ITEMS AND HAVE MORE ITEMS IN THE HOME.

>> THAT'S SO INTERESTING.

I DO KNOW YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A COUPLE WOMEN'S FASHIONS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT.

COULD WE LOOK AT THEM?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW THOSE TO YOU.

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>> I LOVE THE LOOK OF THESE DRESSES.

GIVE ME SOME BACKGROUND BETWEEN BOTH OF THESE.

>> THESE ARE FROM A SIMILAR PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS WILL BE AN EVENING GOWN FROM 1904.

AND THIS IS A WEDDING DRESS FROM 1908.

>> AND WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

>> SO THIS IS FROM CINCINNATI.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MADE BY A DRESS MAKER IN CINCINNATI, MEANING IT WAS MADE TO ORDER.

IT WAS MADE PRIMARILY BY HAND WITH SOME SEWING MACHINES.

WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THIS DRESS.

IF WE CALCULATE IT UP TO TODAY'S DOLLARS, IT COSTS ABOUT $1,200 FOR A WEDDING DRESS, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD PRICE.

THIS IS A TWO PIECE EVENING GOWN.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF HER WAIST HAS BEEN LOST.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE WAISTBAND WHERE SOME OF HER LABEL IS STILL THERE.

THIS IS DONE BY A DRESS MAKER.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LABELS.

WHEN DID LABELING BECOME A THING?

>> SO LABELING BEGAN IN MEN'S WEAR AND TAILERING.

ON THE INSIDE OF THE COAT, THERE WAS A LABEL THAT MARKED WHO THE SUIT WAS FOR AND WHEN IT WAS MADE.

THEY WENT AHEAD AND PUT THEIR NAME ON IT ANYWAY.

IT IS NOT UNTIL THE MID-1960s WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HIGH FASHION, CHARLES FREDERICK WORTH, AND HE STARTS TO PUT HIS NAME AND GARMENTS IN SAYING HE IS AN ARTIST AND ARTISTS SIGN THEIR WORK.

YOU HAVE THAT PRACTICE COPIED BY LOCAL DRESS MAKERS AS WELL.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE 1890s, IT IS A PREVALENT PRACTICE.

>> HOW DO YOU TELL?

>> WELL, BASICALLY, MOST WEDDING GOWNS YOU WOULD BE MARRIED USUALLY IN THE MORNING TO AFTERNOON, SO YOU WOULD BE WEARING DAY WEAR.

IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IT IS STILL CUSTOMARY TO COVER UP BASICALLY FROM NECK TO WRIST TO ANKLE.

IF YOU LOOK HERE, YOU CAN SEE SHE'S GOING UP INTO WHAT'S KNOWN AS A STANDING BAND COLLAR.

AND HER SLEEVES ARE GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE WRIST AND, OF COURSE, ALL THE WAY TO THE ANKLE.

YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY ANKLE UNTIL THE MID-19 TEENS.

SHE HAS A LOW SCOOPED NECKLINE.

YOU WOULD BALANCE THIS OUT WITH FULL OPERA LENGTH GLOVES.

>> SO LOW CUT WAS OKAY.

>> ONCE IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE.

>> I GUESS THAT'S TRUE, RIGHT?

SO WERE THESE WHITE AT ONE TIME?

>> THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT TOO OFF FROM THEIR ORIGINAL COLOR.

POST WORLD WAR II, YOU STARTED TO HAVE BETTER CHEMICAL STUFF WHERE YOU COULD DYE IT AND NOT DAMAGE IT.

THIS IVORY TO CREAM COLOR IS MORE POPULAR.

>> HERE YOU COLLECT FASHION FROM ALL DECADES.

TALK ABOUT JUST SORT OF THAT PROCESS.

>> WELL, WE HOPE FOR ANY FASHION PIECE WE GET, WE WANT TO SHARE IT WITH THE PUBLIC.

WE WANT IT TO BE WHERE IT CAN GO ON DISPLAY.

WE DO KEEP SOME PIECES JUST FOR STUDY BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THINGS DON'T HOLD UP.

SO WE'RE FORTUNATE AND LUCKY TO HAVE THESE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE.

WE TAKE THEM IN FROM ANY TIME PEOPLE BEGAN TO SETTLE AND EMIGRANT HERE TO THE STATES.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS COLLECTION, FOR BRINGING THESE OUT OF THE VAULT.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN LOOK AT MORE IN THE FUTURE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>>> AS THEY POINTED OUT AT THE OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION, FASHION IS EVER-CHANGING.

AND COLUMBUS HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT INDUSTRY.

>> A LOT OF NEW DESIGNERS HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN THEIR START HERE IN COLUMBUS.

IN FACT, ONE LOCAL DESIGNER, WHO EMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY, WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO STAY CONNECTED TO HER INDIAN CULTURE.

>> SO SHE'S STARTING TO CREATE DESIGNS INSPIRED BY HER CULTURE AND FOUND AN AUDIENCE WITH LOCAL COLUMBUS BRIDES AND EVEN SOME MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANTS.

>> HERE'S HER INSPIRING STORY.

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>> SO FASHION CAN TELL STORIES.

PRESENT YOU, YOUR CULTURE, WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT EVEN SPEAKING.

I STARTED DESIGNING FOR MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

I HAD NO CLUE THAT I WOULD SHOWCASE MY COLLECTION IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK OR MISS UNIVERSE.

I'M TALKING TO YOU BY PROFESSION, BUT THIS IS MY SIDE HUSTLE.

I'M BORN IN INDIA.

MY MOM, SHE HAD A SMALL BOUTIQUE.

AND I USED TO HELP HER IN HER BOUTIQUE MAKING SKETCHES, LOOKING AT BEAUTIFUL CLOTHING.

AND I STARTED DESIGNING AT THE AGE OF 16 WHEN I TOOK PART IN BEAUTY PAGENTS.

I DECIDED TO DESIGN MY OUTFIT MYSELF.

THAT CALLED ATTENTION, AND I TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY ALL THE COMPLIMENTS I GOT.

ALONG WITH BEST DRESSED CONTESTANTS, AND I STARTED DESIGNING FOR MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

WHEN I DESIGNED MY FIRST COLLECTION DURING THE PANDEMIC, I HAD A LOT OF FREE TIME IN HAND, AND MY DOCTOR, SHE STARTED PARTICIPATING ME IN DESIGNING BECAUSE SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT DESIGNING, TOO.

THIS WAS FROM MY FIRST COLLECTION IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK AND WORN BY A MISS UNIVERSE DELEGATE AS WELL.

INDIA IS ALL ABOUT COLORS.

WHEN THEY LAUNCH NEW COLLECTIONS ON RUNWAYS, THEY GO WITH COLORS LIKE REDS, PINKS, FUCHSIA.

I TOOK A CHANCE AND I LAUNCHED A NEW COLLECTION AND WE ADDED SOME RED CRYSTALS TO ADD THAT INDIAN TOUCH.

BUT THIS COLLECTION WAS SUPER HIP.

MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S BORN HERE, AND SHE LIKES A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT AMERICAN CULTURE AND A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT INDIAN CULTURE.

SO THE IDEA BEHIND THIS, COMING UP WITH A COLLECTION WHICH HAS SOME FUSION FROM AMERICA BUT HAS INDIAN ROOTS AS WELL.

IT IS A STRONG COMMUNITY, BUT I HAVE VERY MIXED CULTURE OF CLIENTELE.

I WANT TO CREATE A COLLECTION THAT IS LOVED BY EVERYONE, THAT IS NOT JUST SPECIFIC FOR INDIAN PEOPLE.

AMERICA IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

IT HAS ACCEPTED US SO WELL THAT I WANTED TO GIVE BACK IN TERMS OF CREATING BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS THAT ARE VERSATILE AND USABLE FOR ALL THE CULTURES.

INDIAN BRIDES LIKE TO WEAR RED COLOR.

THAT'S THE COLOR OF BRIDES IN INDIA.

HERE BRIDES WHERE WHITE DRESS AND THEY WANT A TOUCH OF INDIA IN THAT.

I ADDED SOME GOLD AND CREATED THIS BEAUTIFUL ONE.

I LAUNCHED MY COLLECTION IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND IT CAUGHT HUGE, HUGE ATTENTION.

I FIT IN MORE THAN 50 LOOKS, JEWELRY, DRESSES, OUTFITS FOR MISS UNIVERSE.

AND THIS YEAR I EXPANDED EVEN MORE.

I STYLED AND DESIGNED OUTFITS FOR DIFFERENT DELEGATES FROM MISS UNIVERSE.

THEY WALKED FOR ME IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, WHICH IS ANOTHER FEATHER IN MY CAP.

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>> IT WAS UNREAL FOR ME COMING FROM NOWHERE TO SHOWCASING MY DESIGNS ON BIGGER PLATFORMS IN THE WORLD.

AND I FEEL SO PROUD TO BE INDIAN AND PROUD OF WHERE I COME FROM, AND I'M TAKING MY DUES, SPREADING THINGS FROM MY CULTURE AROUND THE GLOBE.

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>> AND HERE COMES THE COLOR OF THE INDIAN BRIDE.

SO THIS IS A BRIDAL OUTFIT FOR AN INDIAN BRIDE.

IT IS A FLOOR LENGTH DRESS.

A LOT OF GOLD, HEAVY EMBROIDERY.

IT IS MADE ON FABRIC.

IT LOOKS HEAVY, BUT THIS PIECE IS NOT AS HEAVY AS IT LOOKS.

WE ADDED THIS.

ALL THE EMBROIDERY ON THE BOTTOM.

FOR AN ARTIST, FASHION IS SOMETHING ABOVE MONEY AND EVERYTHING.

NOTHING MATTERS WHEN YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING.

IT'S A SELFLESS LOVE, AND YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT.

WHEN I'M IN A CREATIVE PROCESS, IT BRINGS THAT HAPPINESS IN MY LIFE.

SO HAPPINESS WAS THE ONLY GOAL IN THIS NEW COUNTRY WHERE I DO NOT HAVE MUCH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS FEELING IN WORDS.

IT IS SO EMOTIONAL TO ME.

AND I USED TO SPEND TIME MORE AND MORE ON MY HOBBY, IT WAS SO PEACEFUL FOR ME.

AND IT FELT LIKE MEDITATION TO ME.

AND NOW THINGS ARE WORKING.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOW DESIGNING FOR SOME CONTESTANTS FROM THE SUPER NATIONAL PAGEANT AS WELL.

BIG THINGS, IN DESIGNING OUTFITS FOR CELEBRITIES.

THIS WILL BE MY THIRD YEAR SHOWCASING MY DESIGNS.

SO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

AND I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING ALL THAT.

IT WAS JUST THE FASHION COMMUNITY, WHICH KEPT ME GOING.

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>> I TRIED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING AS WELL.

THIS IS A PART FROM MY RED CARPET COLLECTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE WORE ON THE CARPET APPEARED IN ITALY.

IT IS SOME EMERALD.

IT IS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BACK IS VERY LIGHT AND CHIC.

DESIGNERS KEEP ON LAUNCHING A NEW COLLECTION.

L.A.

FASHION WEEK, NEW YORK, PARIS, MIAMI.

YOU JUST NAME IT.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, 70% OF GOODS GOES TO LANDFILL.

IT'S VERY SAD FACT.

I LIKE TO USE MY OLD PIECES.

SO I LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BUY LESS, BE MINDFUL, BUY GOOD QUALITY CLOTHES.

WEAR IT OVER AND OVER, RESTYLE IT.

THERE CAN BE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO THIS STYLE.

YOU KNOW, I REPEAT MY PIECES EVERY TIME I GO OUTSIDE.

I WEAR THAT PIECE ON THE NEXT STATEMENT, STYLE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT.

IF A DESIGNER CAN WEAR ONE PIECE THREE TIMES, FOUR TIMES, YOU SHOULD ALSO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND BE MINDFUL ABOUT YOUR PASSION PRACTICE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE MOMENT FOR ME.

THAT'S WHY IT IS A DESIGNER DREAM COLLECTION.

AND WITH MY DREAM, I'M FULFILLING SO MANY MORE DREAMS, CREATING A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WOMEN LIKE ME WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

GETTING BACK FROM FASHION WEEK, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR ME, IT IS FULFILLING SO MANY DREAMS.

IT'S 17 YEARS IN AMERICA, AND IT TOOK ME THAT LONG TO COME FROM NOWHERE TO HERE.

AND I FEEL I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>>> ONCE THE WEDDING IS OVER, BRIDES WHO WANT TO KEEP THEIR DRESSES USUALLY WONDER, WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

PUT IT IN A PIN.

PUT IT IN THE BASEMENT?

>> WELL, I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE DO THAT.

BUT THERE IS A PROPER WAY TO PRESERVE YOUR WEDDING DRESS.

AND THE OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION HAS SOME GREAT TIPS.

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>> SO, BECKY, TODAY WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO PRESERVE YOUR WEDDING DRESS ON YOUR OWN.

A WEDDING DRESS IS SUCH AN ICONIC PIECE FOR A BRIDE.

IT IS LIKE THEY PUT ALL THEIR ENERGY AND TIME AND FOCUS ON IT FOR THE WEDDING, BUT THE NEXT DAY IT ENDS UP IN A BOX OR IN THE CLOSET.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PICK YOUR BRAIN ON SOME BEST PRACTICES OF PRESERVING YOUR OWN WEDDING DRESS.

>> SURE.

FIRST THING WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS IS TO GET IT CLEANED AS SOON AS YOU CAN AFTER THE WEDDING.

IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT OF TOWN, MAYBE SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE CAN DROP IT OFF AT A TRUSTED DRY CLEANERS.

IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DRY AND WASH IT OFF YOURSELF.

MOST PEOPLE'S WEDDING DRESSES ARE NOT MADE OF YOUR TYPICAL COTTON OR SYNTHETIC FABRICS.

THEY SOMETIMES HAVE EMBELLISHMENTS.

AND IF YOU TRIED TO WASH THIS IN YOUR WASHING MACHINE, YOU WOULD DESTROY IT.

SO YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET IT INTO THE HANDS OF A PROFESSIONAL DRY CLEANER.

THE TOP PART IS IN FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION, BUT YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE WRINKLES THAT ARE IN THE SKIRT AND IN THE TRAIN.

SO GETTING YOUR DRESS INTO A GREAT STORAGE SITUATION WILL HELP PREVENT THOSE WRINKLES FROM FORMING.

>> PERFECT.

NOW YOU HAVE SOME THINGS OVER HERE, I THINK, THAT ARE WAYS THAT YOU COULD PRESERVE IT.

WHY DON'T YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU USE TO PRESERVE THE WEDDING DRESS?

>> SURE.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF SPACE YOU HAVE, THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO STORE A WEDDING DRESS.

ONE IS ON A HANGER.

IF YOU DO WANT TO HANG IT, WE RECOMMEND YOU USE PADDED HANGERS LIKE YOU SEE UP FRONT THERE.

IT IS JUST A REGULAR HANGER, AND THEN WE WRAPPED IT IN FOAM AND CREATED THIS NICE CASING FOR IT.

SO THIS WILL JUST KEEP THE WEDDING DRESS FROM GETTING ANY OF THOSE NASTY LITTLE HANGER MARKS IN THE SHOULDER.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> IF YOUR DRESS IS LONGER, IF IT HAS A LOT OF WEIGHT TO THE SKIRT, IF IT HAS A LONG TRAIN, WHEN YOU WEAR THE DRESS, YOUR HIPS AND WAIST SUPPORT THAT WEIGHT.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT ON A HANGER, ALL OF THAT WEIGHT WILL BE IN THE SHOULDERS, WHICH WILL CAUSE IT TO DRESS.

IT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE.

IT CAN CAUSE IT TO BE MISSHAPEN.

YOU WANT TO PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT FOR THE SKIRT AND THE TRAIN.

BEST THING TO USE, THIS IS CALLED FABRIC TAPE.

YOU CAN BUY IT AT MOST STORES.

IT IS A COTTON TAPE.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS CREATE SUSPENDERS FOR YOUR SKIRT.

YOU DOUBLE OVER THE TAPE, FIGURE OUT HOW LONG IT NEEDS TO BE SO THAT YOU CAN STITCH IT RIGHT INTO THE HEM LINE, AND IT WILL GO UP OVER THE HANGER, AND IT WILL SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THAT SKIRT.

YOU WANT TO PUT TWO IN THERE, ONE ON EACH SIDE SEAM.

>> PERFECT.

NOW OVER HERE, I ACTUALLY HAVE MY WEDDING DRESS THAT I HAD PRESERVED YEARS AGO.

SO I SENT IT IN.

THEY PROFESSIONALLY DID IT.

THEY LOCKED IT UP IN THIS BOX.

BUT WHEN YOU DO IT ON YOUR OWN, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY AT HOME.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO GET AN ACID FREE BOX FOR IT.

>> OKAY.

>> THESE ARE TEXTILE BOXES.

YOU CAN GET THEM FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

WHEN YOU PUT ESPECIALLY A DRESS LIKE THIS ONE INTO A TEXTILE BOX, WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DO IS FOLD IT VERY CAREFULLY AND THEN TRY AND PREVENT THOSE FOLDS FROM BECOMING PERMANENT CREASES LIKE WE HAVE HERE.

SO THE KEY IS TO LAY THE DRESS OUT FLAT.

THEN AS YOU FOLD, USE ACID FREE TISSUE PAPER, WHICH USUALLY COMES WITH THESE BOXES.

SO YOU JUST TAKE THE TISSUE PAPER AND JUST CRUMPLE.

>> I COULD DO THAT.

>> LAY IT RIGHT DOWN WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO FOLD THE DRESS AND SIMPLY FOLD THE DRESS OVER TOP OF THE TISSUE PAPER.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT KEEPS THAT FROM CREATING A PERMANENT CREASE.

>> WHERE DO YOU STORE THE BOX?

>> YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM MOISTURE.

THESE ARE NOT WATERPROOF.

AND THEY ARE -- THEY DO ALLOW AIR IN.

THEY'RE BREATHABLE.

IT ALLOWS THE FABRIC TO BREATHE.

BUT IT DOES MEAN IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER, TO PESTS, REALLY UNDER YOUR BED, UP TALL IN A CLOSET.

NOT IN A BASEMENT, ATTIC OR GARAGE, NOT WHERE YOU WOULD GET PESTS OR WATER LEAKS OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

A GOOD ALTERNATIVE IS A CEDAR CHEST AND A HOPE CHEST.

LINE IT WITH ACID-FREE TISSUE SO IT IS NOT UP AGAINST THE WOOD.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HELP PROTECT IT AND SOMETHING THAT'S BREATHABLE IS A GREAT WAY TO STORE IT.

>> AND PRESERVING THE DRESS GOES BEYOND THE PHYSICALITY OF PRESERVING IT.

IT IS PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF THE STORY OF THE DRESS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> IT IS REALLY HELPFUL IF YOU CAN PRESERVE THE STORY THAT GOES ALONG WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS.

THINK BACK ABOUT THEIR STORY ABOUT WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT OR THE DAY THAT YOU WORE IT.

WRITE ALL OF THAT DOWN.

WRITE DOWN WHO WORE IT, WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT, WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT, WHERE YOU GOT MARRIED, HAVE SOME PICTURES PRINTED OUT WITH IT AND JUST KEEP IT IN AN ENVELOPE IN A BOX WITH THE DRESS SO THAT WAY IT NEVER GETS SEPARATED FROM IT AND DOWN THE ROAD, YOU HAVE THE STORY FROM THE PERSON WHO WORE IT, WHICH WAS EVEN BETTER.

>> BECKY, THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

I'M SURE YOU GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO PRESERVE A WEDDING DRESS.

THANKS AGAIN.

>> OH, IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

AND, REMEMBER, YOU CAN CATCH ALL OUR EPISODES ON YOUTUBE OR COLUMBUSNEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.

>> AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS."

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