Preserving your Dress of a Lifetime

Right from the Beginning

Our keepsake storage boxes are suitable for storing your Christening gown, should you wish to.  This means no hunting for the right box!  Our boxes are extremely sturdy, ready for use and finished very simply with ribbon; perfect.

Why store your gown?

You may wish to keep your gown as a beautiful reminder of your child's Christening, or to gift it to a future grandchild or relative.  Storing Christening gowns correctly is important as these items are a warm, tangible reminder of someone and something special in your life.  Many people don't realise that textiles, both old and new, can be damaged or completely ruined if not stored properly, for example, if placed in a random or "normal" cardboard box in a damp attic or in a basement out of sight.  Proper storage is key to success in preventing damage to your gown.  This is where we at The Gown Box can help you!

To discuss purchasing your Christening gown without the box purchase, it's not a problem, so get in touch to find out more.

The ideal box

With The Gown Box you are buying one of the best available archival boxes.  By choosing to use one of our boxes it's likely you will ensure that future generations appreciate your gown and continue to look after it just as you have done.  Exactly how you pack and store your gown is up to you.  The most important thing you need to keep in mind when storing a fragile item like your Christening gown long term is that your gown is best stored flat, in a sturdy, acid-free, "unbuffered" box, self-contained.  The box needs to be lined with acid-free tissue paper to protect and support the garment as much as possible, and to limit any creasing.  Let's look at this in more detail...

Acid-free, archive safe storage

Boxes from The Gown Box are made from acid-free boards.  Acid-free means that at the point your box is manufactured, the box boards are pH neutral, which is usually around 7.  This helps prevent your gown from yellowing or discolouring.  Our boxes are also "unbuffered", which is generally believed to be best for storing materials derived from animals.  This is because animal (or protein) derived materials have by nature a more acidic composition.  Unbuffered boxes are best for storing the likes of wool, silk, leather, feather, fur and pearl.  Buffered materials, in contrast to unbuffered, have an added alkaline substance like calcium carbonate to counteract acids that may form in the future (or "migrant acidity").  The additional calcium carbonate provides a pH of approximately 8.5, making it non-acidic/slightly alkaline.  Buffered boxes are preferable for storing cellulose fibres like cotton, flax, linen, jute and plant-based specimens.  A buffered box may neutralize your Christening gown to its own detriment!  

In short, an acid-free, unbuffered box is best for silk storage.  When textiles have both cellulose and protein fibres, unknown dyes, or unknown fibres, unbuffered boxes are still the best option.

Sturdy boxes from quality materials

Our boxes have been chosen for their high quality materials.  Finer materials like silk are vulnerable to damage.  You will want to protect your gown as much as possible from dust and damage, accidental or otherwise, like moisture or household contaminants.  Boxes from The Gown Box are made of strong, archival board, with a fitted lid to help maximise protection.  They are ideal for stacking.  The construction comprises of double-sided Kraft lined acid-free/pH neutral board with the double thickness ends stitched with solid brass wire stitches instead of adhesives to promote the lifeline of the box.  This also helps combat the degradation of glue commonly used in cheaper methods of box making.  Brass stitching improves durability of the box by improving its resistance to wear and tear.  The stitches won't rust so are resistant to moisture.  Each box is made of high specification materials and standards of manufacture.

Self-contained storage

Boxes from The Gown Box are perfectly sized for storing just your Christening gown.  Anything in direct contact with your Christening gown can have an effect on it so self-contained storage is always best.  Wardrobes or drawers (a wooden chest can stain!), clothes, suitcase linings, and last but not least hangers, whether plastic, metal or wooden can stain.  Hangers can also place stress on the seams and/or shape of your gown.  This is why it's always sensible to separate your gown from any other item and envelope it in something acid free.  Our boxes are lined with acid free tissue paper to help combat staining and each part of your gown is independently wrapped.  We use some tissue paper to pad out the shape of the sleeves or bodice so that the gown rests as if it was on a baby.

A sensible priced box

With a box from The Gown Box you can store your Christening gown in an archive quality storage box at a sensible price, safe in the knowledge that you are providing it with the best chance of survival for generations to come.

Check the box measurements

15" deep archive box and lid - Standard

Dimensions: 15.25 x 10.25 x 5 inches (39 x 26 x 13 cm).  This extra deep box is perfect for your Christening gown.  It's also perfect for old photos, shoes, the Order of Service or any other memorabilia you wish to keep long term, if stored in a separate box to your Christening gown of course.  The lid is full depth, making these boxes extra strong for stacking.

17" deep archive box and lid - Large

Dimensions: 17.75 x 12.5 x 6 inches (45 x 32 x 15 cm).  The lid is a third of the depth of the box.  This even deeper (15cm) box and super strong archive storage box and lid is also perfect for storing your Christening gown.  It's made from thicker card than the above 15" deep box and gives slightly more room to get your hands around the textile to lift it out of the box.

Be sure of the actual size of your box and where it will fit in your home.

Take care of your gown!

Read our tips and instructions on how best to care for your precious gown.  It's essential that you take the correct measures to preserve your keepsake so please don't skip this

Need more information?

If you have questions on any of the above or would like more information on the storage and materials that we offer for your gown's box, please contact us

The Gown Box

for Baby's Christening Gown

your Keepsake Treasured for Many Years