Textile Conservation — Preserving Historic Fabrics, Costumes, Flags & Quilts
Textile Conservation for Museums, Communities & Families
ICA provides textile conservation for garments, flags, quilts, tapestries, embroideries, and contemporary fiber art. Based in Cleveland, we serve Ohio and the wider Midwest—with projects nationwide. From University Circle and Playhouse Square to the Short North, Over-the-Rhine, Mt. Adams, the North Shore, and Broad Ripple, we assess condition, plan treatment, and return textiles to safe display or storage while honoring their history and meaning.
Challenges with Aged Textiles
Cleaning, Stabilization & Care for Fragile Fabrics
Time leaves marks on fabric: stains and soiling, weakened fibers, tears along folds, fraying edges, and dye instability. Our approach combines careful testing with methods suited to each material—wet cleaning when safe, dry or solvent cleaning when necessary, hand stitching for garment conservation, sheer overlays to support fragile areas, and controlled humidification to reduce creases. We also address pests or mold when present, ensuring the textile is stable and ready for display or storage.
Types of Textiles We Treat
Costumes, Flags, Quilts, Tapestries & Fiber Art
Costumes and historic clothing—from wedding dresses and uniforms to theater garments—benefit from careful support and fabric conservation. Flat textiles such as quilts, banners, embroideries, and tapestries may call for tapestry cleaning, flag preservation, and mounting solutions that distribute weight and reduce strain. We also treat household and ceremonial textiles, rugs, ecclesiastical pieces, hats, and mixed-media fiber art that combine fabric with metal or organic elements.
Process & Documentation
Condition Report, Treatment Proposal & Clear Records
Each project begins with an examination and written condition report that notes structure, materials, stains, weakness, and prior alterations. A treatment proposal outlines recommended steps—cleaning, support stitching, overlays, fills, reattachment of trims—and a timeline. Work is documented with before-and-after photography and guidance for safe display and storage; methods follow recognized conservation standards and are chosen with reversibility in mind when appropriate.
Mounting, Display & Storage
Supports, UV Protection & Archival Housing
Textiles are sensitive to light, gravity, and handling. After treatment, we advise on low-light display, rotation schedules, and UV mitigation. We design or recommend padded hangers, slant mounts, Velcro or sleeve systems, and pressure mounts that support weight evenly. For long-term care, we provide guidance on archival housing—acid-free boxing, tissue padding, rolling, and climate considerations—so you can preserve historic textiles at home or in the gallery.
Project Highlights
Longley Brothers, National Color of the 35th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (2020.100)
Butler County Historical Society
Treatment Summary: The regimental silk color, carried into battle during the Civil War, underwent extensive conservation treatment, beginning with careful unrolling, surface cleaning, and humidification to realign distorted fibers and stabilize fragile fringe and textile elements. Structural damages were consolidated using dyed silk underlays and sheer overlays, while detached embroidered components were reshaped, supported, and reintegrated; severely fragmented stripes were reconstructed using surviving material and visual evidence. Following stabilization of both reverse and obverse, the flag was encapsulated between protective tulle layers and meticulously stitched to create a unified, stable structure. The conserved flag was then mounted onto a custom-built support and framed for long-term display, with retained fragments preserved on the reverse.
Mark Twain costume work by Hal Holbrook, ca. 1967 (2022.110)
Denison University Libraries
Treatment Summary: The multi-component costume worn by Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight underwent comprehensive conservation treatment to stabilize materials and preserve evidence of long-term use. The jacket and vest were wet-cleaned and reshaped, while structural weaknesses across the suit were stabilized with reversible stitched and underlay supports, retaining original and historic repairs where stable. Associated elements—including cravats, shoes, suspenders, and wig—were individually treated through tailored approaches such as cleaning, adhesive reduction, consolidation, and custom supports, with priority placed on preserving fragile materials and original appearance. All components were rehoused in custom storage mounts and boxes to ensure long-term stability and safe handling, with display recommendations provided for particularly vulnerable elements.
Baldacchino (2023.139)
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Treatment Summary: This ceremonial canopy from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland was treated with the primary goal of enabling continued safe use while improving structural integrity and appearance. Treatment focused on stabilizing goldwork embroidery and embellishments and replacing the heavily degraded central panel with a newly constructed, reinforced section using custom-dyed Baronet satin and internal support layers for increased strength and longevity. Original elements, including the dove appliqué and side panels, were retained and reattached, while compromised couching threads were replaced and vulnerable areas secured with supportive overlays and stitching. The canopy was rehoused in a custom storage and transport system with detailed handling guidelines
Quote:
Emily Ahlin, Director of Archives for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, relayed, “We were really pleased with the final result - the baldacchino was vibrant before, and now it is even more striking without all the stray threads hanging all over the place! It is also much sturdier, and I am more confident in how to properly store it when it is not in use. It will last well into the future thanks to the work completed by the ICA.”
Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, RagGonNon, c. 2004, mixed media textile (2023.021)
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC)
Treatment Summary: The two-part textile artwork RagGonNon, comprising Journeys I and Journeys II, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center was treated over 11 days by two conservators, with the primary goals of cleaning and stabilization. Surface cleaning was carried out using soft brushes, HEPA-filtered vacuuming, and cosmetic sponges, significantly reducing accumulated dust and particulate soiling while protecting fragile elements. Minor structural issues were addressed through localized maintenance, including reinforcement of an open seam with stitched netting and consolidation of lifting paint with conservation adhesive. Areas of light-induced fading and embrittlement were documented and left untreated, as the damage is irreversible, and recommendations were made for long-term preservation and display.
Regional Reach
Rooted in Cleveland, Serving the Midwest—and Beyond
We work with museums, historical societies, universities, and private families across Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis. Whether a banner from a neighborhood parade in Gordon Square, a quilt from German Village, or a regiment flag on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, we coordinate shipping and on-site options to meet the needs of both institutions and households.
FAQ: Answers to Common Textile Conservation Questions
Can old garments or flags be cleaned safely?
Many can, following dye testing and fiber evaluation. When safe, wet cleaning reduces yellowing and soils; if not, we use dry or solvent cleaning and meticulous surface methods to remove dust and residues.
How do you repair tears and weak areas?
Stabilization may include sheer overlays, hand stitching, and backing supports that carry stress away from the damage. For quilts or banners, quilt repair and edge reinforcement keep weight distributed and prevent further loss.
What if a textile has beads, metal threads, or leather trims?
Mixed materials are addressed within the overall plan, with careful cleaning and stabilization for non-fabric components. When needed, we coordinate with our objects team for compatible methods.
How should I store a wedding dress or heirloom textile?
Use archival housing—acid-free boxing and tissue padding—avoid attics and basements, and refold periodically to reduce crease memory. We can provide packing and storage guidance tailored to your item.
Do you work on murals or large fiber pieces that can’t travel?
Yes. We offer on-site options for oversized or fragile works, planning treatment and environmental controls to suit the location.
