Shawn Michaels is remembered for his high-energy performances, signature wrestling moves and distinctive stage costumes.
asserted
Michaels → remember → performances
However, preserving the outfits worn by the WWE legend presented a different kind of challenge.
asserted
preserving → preserve → challenge
The synthetic materials used in some wrestling costumes can deteriorate over time, leaving conservators with the difficult task of protecting both the fabric and its visual details.
asserted
materials → use → fabric
Conservation science offers a way to address this problem by examining how materials age and how carefully selected adhesives can help stabilise damaged components.
asserted
adhesives → offer → components
The work highlights the role of chemistry in preserving sports and entertainment history, where costumes are more than clothing.
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costumes → highlight → clothing
They are part of the visual identity and cultural legacy of performers who shaped professional wrestling.
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who → shape → wrestling
Shawn Michaels’ WWE costume that was falling apart
The preservation project began when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contacted the Textile Conservation Workshop in South Salem, New York.
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Entertainment → fall → Salem
Conservator Alison Castaneda explained that the organisation had an outfit belonging to Shawn Michaels that had deteriorated badly during storage.
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that → explain → storage
The costume, made from synthetic leather, had been kept in a plastic container for many years.
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costume → make → years
When the conservators examined it, they found a severely degraded pair of synthetic leather chaps and a top.
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they → examine → chaps
The outfit also featured chains, crosses and other decorative elements.
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outfit → feature → chains
Before deciding how to treat the costume, they needed to identify the material causing the deterioration.
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they → decide → deterioration
Chemistry revealed the material behind the damage
Castaneda and her colleagues used research and testing to determine the type of synthetic leather.
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Castaneda → reveal → leather
The material was identified as polyurethane ester, a type of polyurethane that can deteriorate over time.
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that → identify → time
The team used the Biostine Copper Test and examined flakes from the costume.
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team → use → costume
They also boiled some of the flakes in sodium hydroxide for 30 minutes to help establish the material's composition.
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They → boil → composition
Identifying the material was an important step because the conservation treatment needed to be compatible with the synthetic leather and its underlying structure.
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treatment → identify → leather
Testing adhesives to find a suitable solution
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Testing → test → solution
The conservators investigated previous treatments used on polyurethane ester sculptures.
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conservators → investigate → sculptures
They considered several adhesives, including Impranil DLV, Plextol B500, gelatin and B-72.
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They → consider → DLV
To compare their performance, the team placed small flakes on nylon fabric and tested the adhesives using an ultrasonic nebuliser.
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team → compare → nebuliser
This method helped distribute the adhesive through the flakes rather than leaving it only on the surface.
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method → help → surface
The samples were then tested using a blower, a brush and gentle physical movement.
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samples → test → blower
Impranil DLV produced the strongest adhesion among the tested options, making it the preferred adhesive for treating Michaels' costume.
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it → produce → costume
How the specialised adhesive preserved the costume
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adhesive → preserve → costume
Once Impranil DLV was selected, the conservators began treating the costume.
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conservators → select → costume
They first vacuumed the outfit to remove loose material.
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They → vacuum → material
The costume consisted of a nylon substrate, a thin polyurethane foam layer and an embossed skin layer.
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costume → consist → substrate
Where the outer skin had already disappeared, only powdery foam remained.
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foam → disappear → ?
The team removed this residue because it did not represent the original appearance of the costume and could attract dirt and environmental pollutants.
uncertain
it → remove → dirt
The remaining skin layer was preserved.
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layer → remain → ?
The conservators then applied Impranil DLV in a 22% solution using an ultrasonic nebuliser.
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conservators → apply → nebuliser
The treatment helped secure the remaining flakes and reduce further loss, although it could not restore pieces that had already completely detached.
uncertain
that → help → pieces
Why the costume could not return to display
Following treatment, the outfit was placed in an archival box.
uncertain
outfit → return → box
The chains were secured to prevent them from moving and striking the fragile synthetic leather.
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chains → secure → leather
The costume was returned to WWE, which was pleased with the work and subsequently brought three more Shawn Michaels costumes to the conservators for similar treatment.
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which → return → treatment
However, the original costume was considered too degraded for display.
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costume → consider → display
Its intended future was long-term archival storage rather than exhibition.
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future → intend → ?
Castaneda explained that polyurethane synthetic leather naturally deteriorates over time, making preservation particularly challenging.
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preservation → explain → time
Chains, mirrors and other decorative details
The costume's synthetic leather was not the only material requiring attention.
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leather → require → attention
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
