Dry cleaning industry calling on government help as future remains uncertain
The dry cleaning industry is calling on the government for help as its future remains uncertain.
On Thursday, the Canadian Fabricare Association (CFA) said over 30 per cent of cleaners had vanished.
"The dry cleaning industry was designated as an essential service and received no financial help from either the provincial or federal government," wrote the CFA in a statement.
The Association is now calling on politicians to consider a tax credit to customers who use a commercial cleaner or launderer to help stimulate the economy.
"We're looking for that incentive from the government to help them out to help the cleaners out," said David Alonzi, a CFA board member and president of GreenClean.
Kim Sekleski-Polley has owned Cotty's Cleaners in Barrie for two decades.
Over that time, she has seen industry shifts but never to the extent during the pandemic.
"Business today is very different than pre-pandemic," said Sekleski-Polley.
Over the last two years, business has slowed due to the cancellation of large gatherings like weddings and funerals.
Now that the restrictions are gone, she says business isn't showing signs of bouncing back.
"We're going to be in trouble; not sure trouble, but we're going to become a niche, high-end market where people are going to come to us for very specific things," said Sekleski-Polley.
Evolving fashion is one reason for the shift in business.
According to industry experts at Georgian College and George Brown College, fashion has taken a more comfortable approach.
"A good friend of mine who owns a high-end fashion boutique in Toronto had to completely change her buying strategies during the pandemic, forgoing woven pieces for elevated knits that her clients could wear for their virtual meetings," said Joy Walker, a professor at George Brown College School of Fashion Studies.
Georgian College professor Angela Aujla has studied fashion and its trends for many years, and says clothing can bring a sense of security. With many people forced to work from home, fashion changed with it.
"We get a sense of comfort and security through the clothing that we choose," said Aujla.
"Even pre-pandemic, there was a move, especially in women's clothes, towards softer fabrics, more casual wear, with the burgeoning Athleisure market, but during the pandemic, loungewear or home wear definitely took off."
This shift means fewer garments requiring dry cleaning.
Although good news could be on the horizon for dry cleaners. Both Walker and Aujla believe this winter could see a resurgence in formal clothing due to a restriction-free holiday season, which could extend past Christmas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.