A fashion industry giant has passed away, and it is important not only to remember his work, but also Giorgio Armani’s impact on the fashion industry and the ancillary industries such as luxury dry cleaners in NYC and globally, that support it. Giorgio Armani’s influence on the luxury dry-cleaning industry is indirect but significant, stemming from his revolutionary use of textiles and unstructured designs. These innovations created new challenges and standards for garment care, influencing high-end dry cleaners in NYC and worldwide, including Winzer Cleaners to evolve our processes to properly clean and preserve his expensive, delicate garments as we strive to provide you, our valued clients, with the highest levels of service excellence..
Armani’s Accomplishments and Their Effect on Garment Care
- Giorgio Armani pioneered unstructured tailoring: In the 1970s, Armani eliminated the stiff linings and padding from traditional suits, using softer, more supple fabrics that draped naturally over the body, thereby establishing a new feminine ideal from garments previously relegated exclusively to menswear.
- Impact on dry cleaners: This innovation required Winzer Cleaners as a leading luxury dry cleaners in NYC, to develop more gentle, precise cleaning methods. Traditional, harsh cleaning and pressing could damage these more fragile garments’ structure and destroy Armani’s intended fluid silhouette. High-end dry cleaners in NYC and worldwide responded by investing in specialized equipment and training to handle these delicate fabrics without distorting their shape.
- Experimented with new fabrics: Drawing from his early experience in a textile factory, Armani was known for using unexpected materials and combining them in novel ways. His designs feature unique combinations of silks, linens, and wools, as well as new synthetic and recycled materials.
- Impact on dry cleaners: This innovation made garment care more complex. Leading luxury dry cleaners in NYC, such as Winzer Cleaners, could no longer rely on standard cleaning processes. We needed to develop advanced knowledge of textile science to identify and treat a wide range of materials appropriately. Our challenge was compounded when different fabrics were combined in a single garment, each with its own care requirements. Winzer Cleaners prevailed and the result are processes that are gentle to your bespoke and couture garments regardless of the delicacy of their fabrication.
- Emphasized sustainability: The Armani Group has intensified its research into sustainable and recycled fabrics, a trend that began with its recycled denim jeans in the 1990s. The company has published “Sustainability Requirements for Raw Materials and Production Processes” to guide its manufacturing.
- Impact on dry cleaners: The shift toward sustainable textiles meant that Winzer Cleaners, on the forefront of change in our industry, worked to understand the unique properties and care instructions for these materials. Additionally we adopted more eco-friendly cleaning practices, like wet cleaning and using non-toxic solvents, to align with the sustainable values of brands like Armani and meet the demands of environmentally conscious consumers.
Armani’s Broader Impact on the Luxury Garment Care Industry
- The “Armani effect” influenced and upgraded quality standards: Armani’s clothing became a status symbol for professionals and celebrities in the 1980s, driving up the standards for quality and service in luxury dry cleaning in NYC and across the globe. Owning an expensive Armani suit created a demand for equally high-end care to preserve the investment. Since 1908, Winzer Cleaners has responded to the changing needs of our select clientele. Our upgrades included:
- Increased demand for specialized services: The need to care for Armani’s unique fabrics helped fuel the rise of high-end, boutique dry-cleaning services. As such, Winzer Cleaners differentiates ourselves by offering meticulous, hand-finished care for designer garments, in a marked contrast to standard, high-volume operations.
- Driving technology and innovation: The complexities of cleaning delicate, high-tech, and blended textiles encouraged innovation in the dry-cleaning industry itself. It spurred the development of new cleaning solvents, advanced pressing techniques, and better knowledge of textile preservation.
Giorgio Armani was a great fashion innovator whose work symbolized timeless elegance and luxury for nearly five decades. He revolutionized menswear and influenced global fashion, lifestyle trends, and ancillary industry processes and standards. Fortunately for fashion, Armani had set up succession rights so that his legacy will continue through his collections, beauty products, and sustainability initiatives. Like Giorgio Armani, for decades Winzer Cleaners has also been committed to provide unwavering service excellence in our industry, high-end dry cleaning in NYC. We invite you to contact us regarding the care and maintenance of your choicest Armani or bespoke tailored, or couture finery. Plan to contact us today.
