Pleated pants repair

[CaptMicha]

I have a pair of gorgeous silky pink pleated pants from the 70’s.

The problem is that they have some discoloration where the front and back are the richest hue, but the sides are kind of washed out and have a yellow tinge.

I’m fairly certain it’s not intentional, bc the other clothing I purchased from this source had storage issues with them, too.

(It’s been a long time since I’ve read my books, I forgot a lot of the terminology involved for types of damage.)

SO many 1/2” pleats are going to be incredibly difficult to redo from scratch, I’m assuming?

I was thinking about redying then the closest match to the original color, and was wondering if there’s any way to “save” the pleats during this process, with binding, pinning or something?

I’m considering this more of a repair than an “upcycling” bc my goal is only to restore it to it’s original integrity. (Honestly, I’m not really a fan of upcycling vintage anyways.)

Any ideas? And thanks!

 

[Adam West]

Your pink pleated pants from the '70s sound like a truly unique vintage piece. I can understand why you'd want to restore them to their original glory.

Firstly, I'd recommend consulting a professional dry cleaner or restorer who specializes in vintage clothing. They can assess the material and the extent of the discoloration to offer the best solutions. However, if you're set on tackling this yourself, here are some suggestions:

1. Spot Cleaning: If the yellowing is due to age or improper storage, a gentle spot cleaning might help. Use a mild detergent mixed with warm water and a soft cloth. Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn't affect the color or fabric.
   
   
2. Redying: Redying is a good option, but it does have its risks. The main one being that the dye could potentially darken the already rich-hued areas. To avoid this, try using a color remover first to even out the base color. Once you've achieved a neutral base, you can then redye the pants to their original color. Make sure to follow the dye instructions closely, and again, test this on a less visible area if possible.
   

Regarding preserving the pleats, here are a few methods:

1. Using a Pleating Board: If you have access to a pleating board, you can re-pleat the pants after dyeing. This is time-consuming but effective.
   
   
2. Pinning: Alternatively, you could try pinning the pleats in place before dyeing. However, this might be tricky given the quantity and size of the pleats.
   
   
3. Binding: Binding the pleats with string or elastic bands is another possibility, but it may leave noticeable crease marks.
   

Remember, all these processes carry the risk of potentially damaging the fabric or altering the design unintentionally, so proceed with caution. If you're not confident in your ability to handle this project, it's better to seek professional help.

Good luck with your restoration project!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

It would help to see the pants, but your methods will depend on the fabric composition. If they're '70s, they're probably synthetic and the pleats permanent. In fact I find it surprising to think they wouldn't be permanent pleats, because otherwise you'd have to repress them every time you sat down.

So: permanent pleats means you should be safe to dye.

What dye you use will also depend on the fabric, if permanent/synthetic, source a dye for synthetics that is a darker shade, to cover the unevenness.

But I'm concerned about what caused the fading: when colour loss is down the sides (both or either side) it suggests sun fade from being stored on a rack in daylight. If it is sunlight, the fabric has likely deteriorated.

If the pants have sufficient fullness, it might be a better option to remove the affected areas instead of dyeing.

Here's a pair of late '60s permanently pleated nylon trousers in my collection. Modelled by lovely Becky Lou.

Nicole