At Foster-Stephens' we are very proudly celebrating 80 years in business this March. 

What began March 11, 1936, as a business selling posters of seasonal fashions to dry cleaning stores eventually became a garment and textile storage solutions company offering many different archival products that best preserve clothing, costumes, and of course wedding gowns.

Owner Nancy Jones, daughter of founder Elmer Jones, says, “I am proud of how the company has weathered changes within the textile care industry and changed to fit the needs of our customers.”

Our company began designing wedding gown boxes in the 1940's as dry cleaners began to clean them more often and as they became fancier and more endearing to the bride as a memory of her special day.  

“We introduced our first wedding gown preservation box in 1947 at the first national trade show after World War II,” Nancy Jones notes.

While sales of posters, streamers and various advertising items continued for many decades, the company storage box business continued to grow in leaps and bounds. By the late 1990s, as the advertising portion of the business dropped off, the company added garment bags and muslin liners and covers.

After Elmer Jones died in 1983, his wife, Ruth Jones, took over the company. Today, at age 103, she remains chairman of the board. Nancy Jones purchased her mother’s shares in 2014, making her the majority owner.

Foster-Stephens' looks forward to a rich and rewarding next 80 years as our line of acid-free, archival products continues to grow and continues to help families tell their story by preserving their most precious items.