A long-lost wedding dress dating back to 1966 was given a new lease on life by the skilled hands of a vintage restoration expert.
The 33-year-old creator, known as “Hobby Bobbins” on Instagram, became active in Washington before the COVID-19 outbreak. During the lockdown in 2020, she scavenged for treasures in open house auctions and thrift stores. She discovered a vintage treasure trove in the silence of the lockdown, finding Washington to be a haven of vintage items far beyond what she had seen in Florida.
While most people were searching for new hobbies at home, Ms. Bobbins was captivated by the charm of vintage items.
It was during this time that her passion for vintage items began to blossom.
In an online auction, she won a storytelling vintage dress for $20, even though it encountered mishaps during shipping. Despite the seller offering a refund, Ms. Bobbins remained infatuated with the dress.
She told The Epoch Times, “If this dress was meant to be abandoned, then I’ll give it a chance.”
Thus, she embarked on a marvelous vintage restoration journey. She set out to restore the dress, awakening it from its dusty past, and shared her restoration journey with the world on social media. She recalled how many local thrift stores carelessly displayed vintage wedding dresses in the Halloween section, some torn apart, turning them into Halloween “zombie bride gowns.”
Ms. Bobbins said, “I felt disheartened, my heart sank to the bottom. I thought, ‘I can’t bear to see them destroyed here, I decided to take these forgotten pieces of history and give them a new chance,'” she later shared her experience on social media.
Her actions moved many people, who began sending her their cherished vintage clothing, often unbidden, hoping these garments would not just become Halloween props but receive a “new life.”
“They wanted their stories to continue, they wanted to gift these dresses to people who truly appreciate them,” Ms. Bobbins said.
In September 2021, Ms. Bobbins embarked on a special restoration journey, sparked by Edna seeking help through social media.
Edna’s mother owned an exquisite wedding dress from 1966, left forgotten in a trash bag after her father’s passing.
Ms. Bobbins described it as “a place of hurt in the home.”
The family hesitated on whether to hand the dress over to Ms. Bobbins for restoration, keeping a close eye on Ms. Bobbins’ work on social media. Eventually, after ten months of deliberation, Edna decided to entrust the dress to Ms. Bobbins for restoration.
“They pondered for a full ten months before deciding to send it to me,” Ms. Bobbins recalled.
Ms. Bobbins received the dress in July 2022.
Edna was deeply moved upon seeing the dress, expressing profound respect and gratitude to Ms. Bobbins and eagerly anticipating the results of the restoration.
She said to Ms. Bobbins, “Seeing my mother’s dress in your hands brings tears to my eyes. I know it’s in loving hands. I hope it finds a good home in the end. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I can’t wait to see the final result.”
However, the condition of the dress left Ms. Bobbins apprehensive, as it was heavy, discolored with brown rust spots, water damage, and mold. This dress was clearly not the type Ms. Bobbins was used to handling.
“I was at a loss,” Ms. Bobbins recalled her reaction upon first seeing the evening dress, “I didn’t even know where to start.”
Ms. Bobbins calmed down, carefully inspecting the dress. Subsequently, she sat down to devise a restoration “battle plan.”
“The first thing I had to do was get rid of that musty smell,” Ms. Bobbins said, “because the smell was very strong due to water damage on nearly all items.”
She tried various methods to eliminate the odor without damaging the dress’s satin sheen. While white vinegar seemed like a good choice, she couldn’t use it immediately as it might leave more stains. She realized that before tackling the odor, she had to address the more severe stains.
“I decided to start cleaning it,” Ms. Bobbins said.
For the next three weeks, she threw herself into this work.
As she worked on the restoration, she shared the process on social media. One fan recognized the potential value of the dress and was “love at first sight” before Ms. Bobbins got to work. The lady eventually purchased the wedding dress, but an unexpected turn of events saw the dress back in Ms. Bobbins’ hands.
The restoration process of the dress was both intricate and time-consuming. Sometimes, Ms. Bobbins had to work continuously for six hours.
She hand-washed the dress for 20 minutes, let it sit for another 20 minutes before washing again. Repeat these steps for several hours, then thoroughly rinse and air dry the dress. Next, she had to wait 24 hours before working on it again. Throughout the restoration process, she used various detergents, and the dress went through about 10 washes in total.
Before long, most of the yellow stains on the dress were removed. Next, she approached addressing the odor.
Ms. Bobbins soaked the dress in a vinegar solution for two hours, successfully removing the unpleasant odor. While the dress’s appearance improved significantly, some stubborn large stains remained challenging to remove, becoming the toughest challenge in the entire restoration process.
“I tried every method I knew,” Ms. Bobbins said, “whether it was hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or bleach, I tried every method I could think of.”
But these stains proved incredibly stubborn.
“I felt hopeless, heartbroken,” she said.
Edna’s family became Ms. Bobbins’ source of motivation. As she restored the dress, they kept in touch with her.
“They were very excited about the progress of the dress restoration,” Ms. Bobbins said.
Ms. Bobbins also shared the process of restoring the dress on social media, with her fans continuously encouraging her to complete the restoration. The lady who was eager to purchase the finished wedding dress gave her a lot of encouragement.
“They all wanted to see the final result,” she said, “everyone generously shared their insights and resources. For someone like me with neurodiversity, maintaining focus on something for an extended period can be a challenge. However, seeing so many people sincerely engaged in it gave me the motivation to keep going.”
Faced with stubborn stains that were hard to remove, Ms. Bobbins began to seek alternative solutions. She considered adding lace or embroidery to the dress to cover up the flaws. Her goal was to ensure the garment became wearable again. With so much effort already put into the dress, she hoped it would be suitable for its new owner.
One day, while buying groceries, Ms. Bobbins stumbled upon a cleaning product called “Nellie’s Wow Stick Stain Remover.” She carefully examined the ingredients, finding many recommended components. After purchasing the product, she was pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness.
She said, “After just a few uses, it completely removed stains that even bleach couldn’t erase.”
Ms. Bobbins ironed and steamed the dress. The entire restoration process took about 60 to 70 hours. She completed this undertaking in 2022, the same year she started the work. When she compared before-and-after restoration photos, she was amazed by her achievement.
The lady who always had the wedding dress in mind swiftly purchased it once it appeared again, firmly believing it was destined for her. The restoration of this wedding dress not only raised Ms. Bobbins’s profile on social media but also brought her many new followers who left lots of love and support on her social platforms.
Edna was very pleased with the restored wedding dress. When she watched the video showcasing the finished product with her mother, her mother was so astonished that she held her breath. As the model displayed the dress in the video, her mother requested to pause the video, then stared at the screen as if looking at a picture of her father.
Ms. Bobbins still keeps in touch with Edna’s family to this day. The restoration of the wedding dress brought warmth and blessings to Edna’s family.
“This is why I love this job,” Ms. Bobbins said. “It’s the best way to pass on meaningful items to the next generations.”
Please watch the video:
(Courtesy of Hobby Bobbins)
In a live stream online, Ms. Bobbins demonstrated her craft, introducing her methods and processes to fans – she has a deep interest in vintage American fashion.
“The fabrics from that era far exceed the quality of many fabrics we commonly use now,” she said.
She believes that clothing tested by time and treasured by people holds more enduring value than fleeting fast fashion.
She remarked, “It’s truly special. This item that was once highly sought after in my hands has been through trials and tribulations, much like many people’s life journeys. Now, I am fortunate to give it new life, to be loved again, to restore its original beauty and the meaning it carries. It’s a wonderful experience.”
“It also encourages people to reflect on the past, to think about the precious things they can protect and pass down to future generations. I think it’s very important.”
If anyone is seeking “vintage treasures given a second chance,” Ms. Bobbins invites them to visit her online store.
“Every item in my store has been polished by my own hands, rejuvenated to radiate new brilliance, each one beautiful and captivating. Moreover, many of them carry extraordinary stories,” she said.
The lady who bought Ms. Bobbins’ 1966 vintage wedding dress, due to canceling her wedding, returned the dress. Ms. Bobbins will soon offer it for sale again, hoping the dress will find a new owner and revive once more.