A Strip of Cloth That Makes Dry Cleaners Shudder

A sari, which means “strip of cloth” in Sanskrit, is a traditional Indian garment, about six yards long, that has been worn in a variety of ways for centuries. The various colors and patterns often have different meanings — Hindu brides, for example, often wear red. Fancy saris are covered with intricate embroidery and beading, which make them hard to dry-clean. Some women distrust dry cleaners and prefer to clean their own saris, which can cost $300 or more, washing them in a bucket or bathtub, or gently spot-cleaning them. Samir Patel, of Dry Clean World in Blackwood, N.J., bought a $45,000 machine to clean saris without damaging them. Read more

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