Client: Costume SourceSector: Commercial LaundryLocation: BristolServices: Wet Cleaning, DetergentsInstalled: 2022 & 2025
THE CHALLENGE,
COSTUME BY COSTUME.
Costume Source hires dance costumes to schools, studios and production teams across the UK. Sequins, tassels, glued trims and layered fabrics all have to survive hire after hire, and a costume has to look sharp every time it reaches a customer.
A small set of domestic machines served the purpose early on. As bookings grew the limits became obvious: turnaround tightened, costumes came back in widely varying conditions, and cycles never designed for delicate work risked damaging the detailing.
THE SOLUTION,
TWO PHASES.
Miele introduced Costume Source to Gillmans, and we surveyed the site with our lead engineer before specifying anything. The first phase landed in 2022; when the business moved into a larger unit in 2025 it built on the same system.
We installed four 11kg PWM 511 washers and two 12kg PWM 912 washers, four 14kg PDR 514 dryers and drying cabinets for the most fragile pieces, then fitted drainage pumps and a booster-fed water tank to stabilise supply and cut wash times.
EQUIPMENT
SUPPLIED.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miele Professional PWM 511 Benchmark | Washing machine | 11kg | 4 |
| Miele Professional PWM 912 Benchmark | Washing machine | 12kg | 2 |
| Miele Professional PDR 514 Benchmark | Tumble dryer | 14kg | 4 |
| DC6-4 Heat Pump Drying Cabinet | Drying cabinet | 4kg | 3 |
| DC6-14 Heat Pump Drying Cabinet | Drying cabinet | 14kg | 1 |
| Drainage pumps, water tank and booster pumps | Supporting services | — | — |
THE RESULTS,
SHOW AFTER SHOW.
The expanded setup has made the operation smoother and more predictable. Dependable cycles and greater capacity let the team move through each day with more certainty, keeping turnaround steady even during busy show periods.
Garments are holding up better too. WetCare and a specialist detergent mix have helped costumes retain colour, structure and detailing across repeated hires, creating room for new work including specialist cleaning for customer-owned costumes.
“Miele offered the blend we needed; gentle handling for delicate garments, consistent performance and sustainability credentials that match our own. We needed equipment that could process everything without compromise.”
Aleksis Gailans | Founder, Costume Source
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