Rehab of my 1920’s Circus Cape

Less than a year ago I was able to purchase one of those pieces that I have wanted for years. The timing was right and it just happened to work out that I was able to snatch up this incredible 1920s circus cape from “boudoir queen” on Etsy. I spent years watching this cape, unable to afford it, scrimping and saving so that maybe one day I could actually own it.

Finally last year, my dream came true!

When I received the Cape in the mail, I was dizzy with excitement! I couldn’t sleep because I needed to figure out exactly how I would archive it, did it need to be kept in a special environment? Did it need rehabbing? How would the gelatin sequins handle tropical weather? Where would I ever source the materials to make a mock up, a copy of this Cape for the stage so that I didn’t damage it by constantly putting it back on stage?

I’m so fortunate that I met Jan years ago at Jan’s cleaners in Michigan. I reached out to her about this Cape and she was thrilled to work on it! Jan and her crew have worked on many of my rare vintage burlesque costumes in the past and have done an absolutely incredible job. The beautiful acid green dress with all of the glass bead fringe is one of the pieces they worked on. They were so detailed with that piece that it took them almost 3 years to complete it but it is perfection.

Remembering the beautiful job that Jan did on the green dress, I reached out to her and asked her if she could clean this delicate cape. She agreed to do so and to add a little bit more structure to the silk velvet water scape outside and the sun burst of silk on the inside. She suggested we source vintage sequins to complete the sequin pattern that was not ever completed on the Cape. Around the shoulders on the inside Sunburst of the Cape there are lines of missing sequins. I’m guessing they did this because the scratchy sequins felt uncomfortable next to the performer skin? Regardless, there are so many different sequins on this cape because it has lasted so many years that we are able to keep the sequins that are currently on it and add more sequins even if they’re not exactly the same because there are so many variations of sequins on this Cape already.

In the process of cleaning this Cape Jan will have to remove every sequin and literally take the cape apart stitch by stitch to clean each piece individually and then sew it all back together and reattach the original sequins and any additional sequins that might be needed.

Today I received in an email some photos of the Cape as she is taking it apart to clean and restore what is there. Another reason that she needs to take the Cape apart is because we are creating a new one so that I can wear it on stage without worrying about soiling or tearing the old one. This allows me to pay homage to the past without destroying this incredibly rare historical piece of theatre. What an incredible piece of history that we get to bring back to life! Photo by Madison Hurley