Fig Leaf

I bought a new blouse from Venus Swimwear for my trip and I spilled olive oil on it. I thought it was ruined. The Fig Leaf cleaned it no problem. We have been going to them for a while. They do a superb job on men’s dress shirts and jackets. Super friendly staff and efficient. The best in the city!

I called Fig Leaf right when they opened one morning needing an emergency alteration on a uniform before a military retirement a few hours later. The entire alteration could not have taken more than 20 minutes, but the person I spoke with at Fig Leaf was not interested in helping me out. I’d called three other places before reaching Fig Leaf, but none of the others could help because the tailor wasn’t in. I spoke with a tailor at Fig Leaf and begged and pleaded for help and offered more money in desperation since I really needed help with my uniform for my chief’s retirement, but Fig Leaf did not want to help me. I know businesses have a schedule they must adhere to, but a little compassion and customer service goes a long way. I live in the neighborhood and will never go to Fig Leaf. I ended up going to Sal’s Cleaning on Broadway in Everett, who was more than happy to help someone in need. I will gladly drive by Fig Leaf on my way to Sal’s for all of my future alterations and would suggest that anyone else does the same.

Fig Leaf is just steps away from my apartment, which is primarily why I go here. They do a fine job dry cleaning, and the pricing seems right on to me. I’ve had a couple of minor repairs here, and they were also just ok. The first was the pocket of a jacket, which started to rip. It was a really clean rip, right along the seam, but I didn’t trust myself to repair it, so I brought it in to the Fig Leaf. They repaired it and it looked great, and I was happy. However, about a week later, the thread came out and the exact same thing happened! I took it back in and was very nice but explained to the woman what had happened. Instead of apologizing, she denied that I had ever taken it in to be fixed, and insisted that someone else must have done the shoddy repair! I was shocked, and she kept saying «No, we didn’t do this, we didn’t do this repair.» I felt like I was taking crazy pills. I eventually said, «I’m 100% positive you did, but regardless, I need this fixed.» She said she would fix it free of charge, which is nothing more than what she should have done. It looks good now, but I was definitely put off by her initial response. Still though, they are generally very nice and do a decent job dry cleaning. I’ll keep going back unless I find something in the neighborhood that’s better!

I had a jacket tailored here, not only was the quality of work exceptional, the customer service was outstanding. They know their customers and run a great business. Highly recommended.

The owner did a really lovely job mending the sweater and pants I brought in last week. It’s clear she spent some time stitching the sweater so the repairs don’t show much — I am delighted to be able to go on wearing it! Prices here are reasonable, too.

Had a new pair of jeans altered and asked that we keep the original hem. I saw here on Unilocal that someone else had a great experience with them, so I figured it was a safe bet. When I got them back — the finish was really noticeable: extra stitching all the way around the bottoms, odd attachment of the original hem. I asked that they be redone so you cant tell that they’ve been altered. Once I got them back again — I was still surprised that the finish was very sloppy. I asked if anything could be done. I was told «they’re fine.» I will not go back.

Got a pair of jeans altered and made a point of saying I didn’t want them to come back too short. Well, they came back too short so I had to take them back to get them fixed. They do shoe repairs but send them out, so it seems to take somewhere around 2 weeks to get them back, so I have yet to make use of that service.

The bridesmaid dress that I ordered was delivered a size too small — a four instead of a six (I wanted it a little loose so I could stuff my face). I did notice it until the Monday before a Friday wedding because I didn’t think I needed to check (lesson learned). I searched Unilocal for the best reviews and came upon Fig Leaf.
I basically came to them with an impossible task — to take OUT a dress that was not made to be taken out. It was 7:30AM and just Bernadette and Vernon in this small hole in the wall place. First Bernadette was skeptical and basically told me that dresses like mine cant be taken out because of the way they are made. I thought for sure that they were going to turn me away once they took a look at the dress. After looking she was hesitant but told me it could be possible.
Vernon was so nice and friendly and when I told him it had to be ready by Thurs early afternoon, he was shocked but so polite and surprisingly decided to take the task. They look so busy and I would not have been upset it they had turned me away considering the small size of their business and the fact that it is just them too.
So I am supposed to pick up the dress tomorrow. I will let you know the turnout!

Vernon and Bernadette do excellent work and are very friendly! If you’re looking for someone to help with military or police uniforms, they will take care of you. I took my Army Service Uniform (ASU) there, which entailed a few odd requests and some very specific and detailed requirements. I printed out a sheet with some of the details from the uniform regulations document for them. They were happy to help and they did a fantastic job.

I took two of my grandfather’s old suits in for tailoring, because let’s be honest, a Brooks Brothers never goes out of style.
However, his waistline eclipsed mine. After a quick fitting and many excellent questions regarding my desired fit, the owner took my suits and worked some real magic. These weren’t simple alterations either: I needed the pants hemmed, legs and sleeves slimmed down, waist and back taken in… the whole nine yards. For less than $ 200 (not even enough to buy a cheap suit anywhere in this city), two extremely nice suits came back less than a week later, tailored to perfection.
Customer service was excellent and amazingly friendly, and for a neighborhood tailor with clearly a large quantity of work, the turnaround time was way better than expected. Thanks Fig Leaf for keeping me looking good, and I’ll definitely be back!

Accepting my freshly cleaned and ironed white shirt from the somewhat grumpy yet dignified owner, I was overcome with awe. The shirt looked so pure as a morning dew. I quickly drove home, stumbled into my house and showed my wife the shirt that had the amazing magic touch of Fig Leaf dry cleaner, little did I know, my seemingly innocent act had crippled my wife’s morale as the master of the house, who hold a full time job and all the while take care of our children and keep everything at home in order. She told me she could never wash my shirt as clean, could never iron my shirt as crisp. In her tears she fear I was leaving her for she wasn’t the perfect wife and mother she set to be. I immediately got on my knee and held her close, reminded her of our first date, of my clumsy attempt to proposed to her, I told her how she helped me find myself, and I told her she meant the world to me, and please think of the kids… then it hit me like a ton of brick… I’m Not Married! Who was this women?! Diverted my eyes from the blinding white of the shirt, I realized it was my neighbor’s wife! At that point she also clearly saw I wasn’t her husband. I ran out of her house as if my life was depend on it, left behind the neighbor’s wife sat on the floor in bewilderment. I put my key in the car’s ignition but the darn thing just refused to start, then the second ton of brick hit me: I didn’t own any car! Whose car was this!!! I dashed out of the car while held on to my newly clean shirt.
Well, there you have it: they did an amazing job on the shirt, it practically altered my reality. Definitely go back again, but I’d come back with a friend, who knows what kind of excellent adventure we might experience?

I LOVE Fig Leaf! Some of the best tailoring in the city by some of the nicest folks you could possibly hope to meet first thing in the morning!
Having grown up in the South End my mom has been using them for years, and after stints at other dry-​cleaners, I always come back. The dry-​cleaning is always done well and they have never ruined a piece of clothing, ever. I’ve thrown every delicate fabric their way and everything has been cleaned appropriately.
Now the tailoring, is amazing. I have given them everything from my prom dress (they even dyed my shoes to match!!) to a Coach jacket to have tailored and each garmet always comes back perfectly tailored. Now the repairs… that is where the magic happens. I am admittedly rough on my clothes, and have had more repairs than you can imagine. But no matter the challenge, every piece of clothing that I have ever brought in, has come back completely wearable. I’m talking the crotch of jeans, a huge tear in the arm of a tory burch wool sweater and most amzingly, two huge tears in the back of a chiffon dress. They expertly created new seams in the back to eliminate the tears and you cannot tell at all that anything is wrong. I love Vernon and his daughter and can’t fathom going anywhere else!

WOW! A great dry cleaner. This is by far the best dry cleaner I have ever had! Vernon and his daughter are friendly, honest and they always follow your requests. No crease in your pants — sure, no problem. (All other dry cleaners I have tried in NYC etc. mess that up). Very few broken buttons. It’s all good.

First off. I had two pairs of jeans that needed to be taken-​in, 4 inches off the length, and they re-​attached the original stitching, and IT LOOKS AMAZING. seriously? this is the best a pair of jeans has been done in the history of denim. so many places try to do that, for this service alone, you would travel from any neighborhood in the hub to go here. i also had a shirt with an annoying stain, that 3 washes on my machine did not get out, but Fig Leaf was able to do so. Extremely friendly owner, Vernon & his daughter are clearly in business to make people clothes look the best they can. This really is as good as it gets!

Just started going here. Prices were good, only problem is half of my buttons are coming back crushed and/​or replaced with non matching buttons. Very disappointing.
Update. This place is so horrible. They have ruined many of my shirts. They are so careless. The guy ships them out to the cheapest off site dry cleaner. I am so upset with this place. I want my money back
DON’T GO HERE!
Is there a way to give zero stars?

Quick turn-​around, very good quality. Friendly service.

What is the sign of a good tailor? Organization? Cleanliness? The gift for gab? I don’t think so.
A great tailor is usually a pack rat, a bit messy and disheveled, and focused on getting the measurements right. This is what you find out the Fig Leaf, just a greatly skilled tailor named Vernon.
Vernon is a very nice guy and also very reasonably priced. I had some nice Diesel Jeans taken in, and he did a perfect job, even using the exact matching stitching, color and all. 4 pairs of jeans for 64 $, not a bad deal. Vernon executed quickly, and pressed my jeans for me when I picked them up. The coolest part is they fit perfectly, and the quality of work is top notch.
I am proud to be the first reviewer of the Fig Leaf, and urge anyone in the South End to go see Vernon if you need any special tailoring, or simply basics like hemming or having a jacket taken in.
I think tailoring can be addictive, their is just something special about a piece of clothing that fits you, and isn’t manufactured generically for 4 specific sizes. An addictive and costly habit, but nothing looks better than a nicely fitted shirt or jacket, or that perfect pair of fitted jeans.
As we speak, Vernon is working his magic on a casual black cotton blazer I brought to him this week, I can’t wait to see how it fits :)