Additional Services
Another side to the saleh·baleh experience
In addition to designing and creating clothing, I am a trained textile conservator. I completed a Master of Arts in Fashion and Textile Studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I focused on textile conservation, but also studied collections management and participated in the design and realization of a fashion exhibition at the Museum at FIT. I have also completed repairs and alterations for clients as well as replicating well-loved, but worn out garments. So maybe you have a family heirloom that needs mending or a shirt that you want in another color or a dress that would be perfect if it was just a couple inches shorter. Let me know!
Sample Alteration/Replication Projects
Cara had one of her mother's dresses that both she and her mother loved to bits. The dress has a unique square neckline and back wrap design. The original was made of a pale yellow soft cotton. Cara decided she wanted to have it replicated in a material that would allow her to wear it to the office. Using the original dress as a pattern, I replicated it in a new grey cotton fabric with a black and gold geometric design. Here, the original version hangs on the right side and the new version on the left.
This full-length floral chiffon dress with bell sleeves was a saleh·baleh creation for Suzanne to wear to a wedding. Once the dress was completed, Suzanne decided that she would get more use out of it if it was knee length instead of floor length, so I altered it, shortening the skirt.
Sample Textile Conservation and Exhibition Projects
A mid-19th century 3-piece silk and cotton dress was deteriorating, with large holes, or losses, in several places. A new lightweight fabric, digitally printed to match the original plaid fabric was inserted into the losses and stitched in place. This photo shows the sleeve of the bodice with some of the infills in place. (This dress is part of the Graduate Study Collection at the Fashion Institute of Technology.)
One element of textile conservation is creating mounts for objects that are going up on display in a gallery. Here a mount is being constructed using a material called Fosshape for a very heavy set of Chinese ceremonial armor. Sara is examining some of the armor in the photo at the top of this page. (The ceremonial armor set is in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.)