Would you wear a denim jacket with a suit or a bolero with jeans? Unlike most women (if you believe the media) I'm not so fussed over shoes, so I guess that must make me a coat girl.

I now have all the coats and jackets I could ever need for any possible outfit, so for the past few years I have been making the effort to look after these rather than buy new ones.

Judging by the comments from the repair lady at the cleaners, I am not the only one.

Last year, I took in a gillet, overcoat and trench coat (which I've had since I was 18). They were all cleaned, had lining, pocket and button repairs (one was a major lining reconstruction). The grand total for this was £48 which is cheaper than most winter coats.

Is dry cleaning good for the environment? Not really but it has to be preferable to throwing an item away and buying a new one.

I have just collected a bunch of coats which were cleaned for the winter season and had a good chat with the repair lady there.
I use Castle Cleaners in Saville Row, Newcastle City Centre and I have done since we arrived here over 10 years ago.

As an aside and a great excuse to delight you with some Monty Python I will tell you why I don't use the very famous dry cleaning franchise that I shall not name here.

On the odd occasion, that I have taken in one of my husband's suits to be cleaned at this establishment (which was because he had a discount card), I have ended up feeling like I am in the Monty Python Cheese Shop sketch.

The person at the desk will take a look at the garment to be cleaned and then proceed to give me the low down on what they can't clean from it.

Person at cleaners: Oh look at this here, we may not be able to get that out and that there, ooooh I don't think so - you'll be lucky if they can shift that. We can't make any promises you know.

Person at Cleaners: Of course Madam, we are, of course, a dry cleaners

So because of these surreal conversations (which, I suspect, are scripted for employees by Head Office as a disclaimer), I avoid this place.

I have no such issues at Castle Cleaners and they really try their best to keep your clothes looking good.
During my chat with the repair lady, who after all these years has a good understanding of the inner workings of my wardrobe, she let slip that she has been super busy of late.

She thinks that the 100% increase in repairs this autumn is due to the credit crunch.

So in this sense the crunch is good for some; It has kept some clothes out of landfill and kept skilled local people in work giving a positive meaning to that old saying 'being taken to the cleaners'.