Problem:When a purple dress in high sheen acetate was drycleaned in perchloroethylene in accordance with the care label, the black beaded trim softened, producing unsightly black plastic splodges all over the dress.

Cause:The beading here has not been specified to withstand perchloroethylene fluid. It softens after only two minutes immersion in cold fluid. The care label has been applied by guesswork and no effort has been made to check it.

Responsibility:The blame lies with the garment maker. The dress cannot be put right.