February 26, 2017

Meet Seda Lair of Tip Top Cleaners in Pasadena

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Seda Lair.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Seda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Pasadena in 2010 after buying Tip Top from a family member and I instantly fell in love with the town and the people. Is there anyone who doesn’t? I feel it is a great honour and responsibility being entrusted with Tip Top dry cleaners in Pasadena, which has been family owned since 1947. As a Fine Arts graduate with more than 30 years of executive interior design and cosmetic experience at some of the nation’s most reputable companies, I have an acute eye for detail and an appreciation for the little things that might typically go unnoticed. Pasadena is filled with these beautiful little things that please us OCD types. Coming from Seattle, a birthplace of the environmental movement, I’ve made it a priority to ensure Tip Top has a small environmental footprint.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My only challenge was how to bring this tiered old looking dry cleaners to today’s standards. My first mission was to remove all Pink linoleum flooring, linoleum wrapped walls and replace 60’s old fixtures. My strong interior design background helps me to create and 100% Green environment.

I used old recycled barn wood and rustic Iron fixers and desks, made in America porcelain wood like flooring, LED lighting and state of the art software system to stay concocted with our clients.

Tip Top Cleaners space is so unique that first-time customers are in Awe as they step in. Our modern space is clean warm and inviting to all.

Tip Top Cleaners Pasadena – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
First, a bit about our lovely dry cleaning store:
There is so much to say about Pasadena! It is beautiful, clean, friendly and modern, while still holding on to traditional values. Our mission is to mirror everything that’s wonderful about Pasadena in the service we provide. Many of our customers who are in a hurry, so we provide an efficient and speedy service. But we take our time to meticulously care for each clothes and linens as if they were our own. Also, our customers get the added comfort of knowing their belongings are cared for in a completely non-toxic, environmentally friendly way.

Our professionals take personal pride in treating each article of clothing, after all, our customers expect nothing but clean cloths that they interested us with. Each garment is carefully inspected with extra attention given to stain removal process, we practice 5 step stain check and removal. After cleaning each piece is carefully pressed and if needed minor repairs are performed.

We suggest to each one of our customers to help us to save this wonderful planet and encourage them to reuse and recycle hangers and the garment bags. We offer attractive recyclable, single used durable, reusable garment bags that are water resistant and breathable as an altsingle-useplastic covers. And this has been a success with our customers, they understand the need to eliminate hundreds of million pounds of dry cleaning single-use plastics from our landfills and protect our wildlife.

I am proud to say we do the best tailoring and alteration in the city. Our tailor has an eye for fine detail and superb craftsmanship, precise detail to floral appliqué and beadwork. Our specialty is wedding gown alteration and post-wedding gown cleaning and preservation.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As a single women business owner, I have accomplished what my vision was for success. Last years we were chosen to be the best Dry Cleaners by Pasadena Weekly magazine. We all are thrilled that our community gave us such an honor and recognition.

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