Françoise pieces cleaned and hand-finished by Alex's Dry Cleaning Valet.
Heritage & Expertise
Françoise, Cared For by Alex's Team
Founded in Paris by designer Johanna Senyk — the award-winning talent behind the cult label Wanda Nylon, who honed her eye working in runway casting for houses including Alexander McQueen, J.W. Anderson and The Row — Françoise channels the spirit of the iconic French women who share its name: Sagan, Hardy, Fabian. The house is celebrated for a quietly rebellious, deeply feminine elegance built almost entirely from exquisite vintage fabrics and couture deadstock, designed and made in France into genuinely one-of-a-kind pieces.
That is exactly why Françoise demands specialist care. Reclaimed couture silks, aged satins, and salvaged trimmings have already lived one life — their dyes can be light-sensitive, their fibers more fragile than new cloth, and a single bolt is irreplaceable if a harsh solvent strips it or a careless press scorches it. Alex's specializes in precisely this kind of irreplaceable, non-reproducible garment, where there is no second chance and no reorder.
Specialist Care
How Alex's Cares for Françoise
Every Françoise piece is examined by hand, tested for colorfastness on its vintage cloth, gently solvent- or hand-cleaned according to the specific fabric, and pressed by eye so the original drape and patina are preserved exactly as the atelier intended.
Vintage couture fabric
Each Françoise gown is cut from salvaged couture cloth that cannot be re-sourced. We test colorfastness on a hidden seam before any cleaning and choose the gentlest effective method, never a one-size solvent run, so an irreplaceable fabric is never lost to an aggressive process.
Couture deadstock & light-sensitive dyes
Older deadstock dyes can fade or shift under heat and strong chemistry. We clean cool, store and transport these pieces away from light, and avoid the oxidizing brighteners that flatten an aged, hand-dyed color.
Salvaged vintage trimmings
Françoise's reclaimed buttons, beadwork, and antique trims are unique to each piece. We hand-secure and protect every embellishment before cleaning and finishing, so nothing original is snagged, dissolved, or lost.
French occasion-wear construction
Designed and made in France with couture-level interior structure, these dresses and gowns are pressed by hand on the form — never crushed flat — so the built-in drape, ease, and silhouette return exactly as cut.
One-of-a-kind, non-reproducible pieces
There is no reorder for a Françoise garment. We log, inspect, and individually finish each piece, treating it as the singular object it is rather than another item on a rack.
Pickup & Delivery
Door-to-Door Across the Bay Area
The same white-glove standard travels everywhere we serve. Pickup from your front door, doorman, or garage — returned cleaned, pressed, and ready to wear.
San Francisco
Monday – Saturday
Next-business-day return; Saturday pickups return Tuesday morning.
Peninsula & South Bay
Monday · Wednesday · Friday
Returned on the next scheduled service day.
Marin County
Monday – Saturday
Same-day return is the standard Mon–Fri — morning pickups come back the same afternoon. Saturday pickups return Monday; closed Sundays.
East Bay
Thursday & Saturday
Returned on the next service day.
Wine Country
Monday & Thursday
Mon & Thu 11:00 AM–3:00 PM · next service day (Mon↔Thu). $300 min or $75 each way.
$75 minimum per pickup with free pickup and delivery across San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and the East Bay. Wine Country (Napa, Sonoma & St. Helena): $300 service minimum, or a $75 delivery charge each way. Same-day service available in most areas for an additional fee.
Common Questions
Françoise Garment Care FAQ
Can a Françoise dress made from vintage or deadstock fabric be safely dry cleaned?
Yes, but only with garment-specific testing rather than a standard solvent cycle. Because Françoise pieces are sewn from one-of-a-kind vintage couture fabric and deadstock — often with aged, light-sensitive dyes and fragile reclaimed fibers — Alex's tests colorfastness on a concealed seam first, then selects the gentlest effective method (cool cleaning or hand work) for that exact cloth. We have cared for irreplaceable, non-reproducible garments since 1984, which is precisely the expertise these pieces require.
How do I get my Françoise gown picked up and cleaned in San Francisco?
Simply call 415-338-9318 to schedule. Alex's is door-to-door across San Francisco and the Bay Area — and no drop-off. We collect your Françoise dresses and gowns from your home, clean and finish each one by hand, and deliver them back to your door. For pricing, see alexdryclean.net/pricing.
How should I store a Françoise piece between wears to protect it?
Hang structured Françoise dresses on a padded hanger and lay heavily beaded or bias-cut gowns flat to spare the seams, always away from direct light — vintage and deadstock dyes can shift over time. Keep them in breathable cloth, never sealed plastic, so the fabric can rest. When a piece needs cleaning, call 415-338-9318 and we will collect, care for, and return it ready to wear.