COUTURE IS THEIR LEGACY

Margaret’s the Couture Cleaner turns 70

An impeccable sense for detail, an expert staff, and a family background in the industry that dates back to the late 1800s are the hallmarks of Margaret’s, the couture cleaning company. This year marks the 70th year since Margaret Clutter started her business in La Jolla. She quickly earned the reputation as the finest cleaning and tailoring business in the area. In 1987 at the age of 80, Margaret wisely handed the reigns over to third-generation cleaner John Horst and his wife Barbara, who have maintained her meticulous standards through the decades. Today, Margaret’s remains a family-owned business, involving seven family members and operating in five locations. They are known and revered by fashion designers, museum curators, and costume collectors across the United States.

In the world of tailoring and cleaning, the word couture is synonymous with custom-made. Each item is handled as a custom job and only about half of the orders Margaret’s receives are conventional items that need to be cleaned such as jackets, dresses, and neckties.

“Clients trust us with their most treasured items: the likes of tennis shoes that are worth more than $40,000, beaded Indian bridal trousseaus, Civil War military uniforms, eighth-generation christening gowns, heirloom linens, fine grain leather, the finest designer handbags, and collections of vintage celebrity apparel for the likes of Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, and Lana Turner,” says company president Chuck Horst, who also represents the fourth generation of the family business.

“Our reputation for excellence is known nationwide in the cleaning industry,” Chuck says. “We are a resource for other cleaners who seek expert advice and we consult for museums and collectors nationwide.”

Beyond its long history in the business, Margaret’s owes its stellar reputation to its dedicated staff of professionals, which includes couture seamstresses, cleaner/spotters, refinishers of designer handbags, a textile engineer, a beading expert, a knitting expert, a master shoe cobbler, a master furrier, and a master restorer of environmental damage such as mold, insects, and fires. “Our employees have impressive backgrounds, and many have worked in the finest design studios like Hermès and Louis Vuitton in Paris,” Chuck says. “We are fortunate to have such an incredible team.”

As was the case with many businesses, Margaret’s found the need to pivot during the pandemic. Instead of ballgowns and neckties, customers began to approach them with valued home décor items such as linens, rugs, artwork, wall hangings, and first edition books. Today, treasured artifacts and family heirloom items are becoming a major portion of the business.

The pandemic also reemphasized another way that the company connects with customers worldwide: the Clean by Mail service. Customers can simply visit the company website and follow the easy instructions to get an estimate for an item that needs couture care, box it, print a shipping label, and mail it from any part of the world. A helpful video outlines the entire process. In addition, Margaret’s has five brick and mortar locations in La Jolla, Kearny Mesa, Del Mar, Newport Beach, and the west side of Los Angeles.

“Our business will continue to evolve as we respond to the needs of our customers,” Chuck says. “At the core, we are a family business. As we like to say, ‘we’re different, we’re better, and our customers are worth it.” 

For more information, visit margarets.com