As Seen in Heritage Auctions: The Intelligent Collector 

Necessity is the mother of invention, says Doug Greenberg, vice president sales and marketing, at Garde Robe, the world’s first and only luxury wardrobe storage and Cyber Closet valet service.   It all began 20 years ago when its founder, like most of her fellow New York apartment dwellers, didn’t have enough closet space. “She believed that there were many other people who had a similar need, ” says Greenberg.  And just like that endless closet space was born.

Not having enough room to properly store luxury handbags and accessories is not only frustrating and inconvenient, but it can lead to costly damage, says Diane D’Amato, director of luxury accessories at Heritage Auctions.  “I’ve seen countless bags that have been damaged or completely ruined because they’ve been improperly stored.  Bags that are folded and piled on top of each other and kept in spaces that are not temperature controlled will impact the bags’ quality and appearance,” she says.  Garde Robe provides a unique and essential service.  Together we can offer clients a full range of the luxury accessories experience.  Indeed the needs and desires of our clients are closely intertwined.”

“How you store a bag will determine its value and longevity,” agrees Gerry Gallagher, owner and founder of Leather Surgeons, the world’s leading authority on handbag restoration, spa service and authentication. “Keeping your bag clean and healthy not only makes it look beautiful, it will also prolong its life. If you take care of it, a bag can easily last 100 years.”

That’s why Garde Robe inspects each bag for dirt and damage as soon as its picked up. “A condition report is created for each item, ” Greenberg says. “If there is any kind of pen mark or stain, we advise our clients to have the bag cleaned before it’s stored. We’ll then send it to Gerry or whomever the client chooses, before it’s photographed, cataloged and stored.

Continue reading the article here.