HARTFORD – Fabricare Cleaners, along with Affiliates of America’s Best CleanersTM (ABC) Affiliates from across the US and Canada, recently traveled to New York, NY for three days of networking and presentations around industry and general business best practices.  The meeting included outings to fashion-related exhibits and businesses including the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Anna Wintour Costume Center and the Albright Fashion Library, where Affiliates sharpened their knowledge of caring for high-end garments.

The regular ABC National Affiliate Meeting, which is held every six months in locations around the country, is a forum for networking and the exchange of ideas around industry and general business best practices.  Meetings are frequently attended by consultants from various industries and businesses that support dry cleaning.

ABC is heavily focused on fashion education.  The New York meeting was no exception, with attendees touring the newly opened “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Anna Wintour Costume Center.  The display of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear fashions gave Affiliates of ABC a keen insight into the construction and care of high-end, heavily decorated garments.  Fabricare Cleaners and other Affiliates also visited the famed Albright Fashion Library, where they were invited to view more than 20,000 couture and designer items housed in the Library’s 7,000 square foot showroom.  Started by Irene Albright, and currently headed by Creative Director Patricia Black, the Albright Fashion Library helps clients source inspired looks for photo shoots, films, performances or special events.  The library’s extensive list of designers, which runs the gamut from Alexander McQueen to Giambattista Valli and Zuhair Murad, gave attendees a chance to view the latest trends in fashion, and to familiarize themselves with current styles in embellishments and design.