Just some 'lateral' suggestions...  Were these garments the only ones you had cleaned at this particular dry-cleaner's?  i.e. the only garments in which you have discovered holes are ones that have been cleaned at this cleaner's...?  Is that the common factor?  Did they treat the damaged areas with any product, for any reason?...An anti-slip agent of some sort, maybe?...  Were the hangers on which the clothes were stored the same ones provided back to you by the dry-cleaner? - were these hangers perhaps wiped with some agent before the garments were placed on them? Or...
i) chemical damage:  were you by any chance using any medication on your own shoulder areas that might have transferred to the garments?    Were the garments ever stored for long periods of time in plastic garment covers? - these deteriorate, and might have caused damage to the shoulder areas they 'protected', which has only now become apparent.  ii) photodegradation: were these clothes ever stored exposed to light for long periods of time - even the closet light bulb? - close to it perhaps?
"Curious-er and curious-er!!"  

Julie Hughes
Restauratrice de textiles/Textiles Conservator
Musée canadien des civilisations / Canadian Museum of Civilizaton
100 rue Laurier St. / Gatineau, Québec / J8X 4H2
Tel:  (819) 776-8416     Fax:  (819) 776-8418
Courriel / e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ballard, Mary
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: I think Stephen King is attacking this clothes closet

Mice? Making a nest? They can squeeze through 1/4" Are there pipes in
the closet? Get a cat?

-----Original Message-----
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of joan kiplinger
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 1:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: I think Stephen King is attacking this clothes closet

Can any of you experts come to the aid of my friend in Miami who has a
mysterious closet attacker and recommend source of problem and how to
cure it?

This is her horror story:

I am desperate for advice regarding a problem in my clothes closet.

   Within the last 2 weeks I have found 7 articles of clothing, all with
large holes apparently eaten by some unknown on the shoulder areas, some
on the right side and some on the left, but always on the shoulder
hanging by the top of the hanger.

 Some of the articles are rayon, some silk, some a combination of rayon
and silk and one cotton shirt.  So far all articles were dark in color.

   All were put from one closet (no problem in that closet) into this
closet after professional cleaning about 5 months ago and the cotton tee
shirt was washed in the machine.

 Consequently, there is no pattern except the oddity that only the
shoulder areas by the hanger are hole damaged.  Also please note that
some were on plastic hangers and at least one on a material covered
hanger.  Again, no pattern.  One skirt was damaged on the very top left
side of the waist but all others at the shoulders where hanging from the
hanger.

I had an extermination company come and they found nothing but bombed
the entire house.

   Today was my last attempt when I hired Orkin, one of the oldest and
most experienced companies.  They sent a man with 18 years experience
who said this is a mystery.  He also searched for evidence of clothes
eating moth larvae which I was convinced it was.  But he said they do
not eat man made fabrics such as rayon, and again no evidence on the
walls or floors.  He thought about silver fish but they also do not eat
such fabric.  Additionally, the holes are so large over the course of
such a small amount of time (I wore two of the outfits a week ago) that
it is unlikely an insect as I discover it within days.

This is the only closet that this is happening in.  We do not have a
mold problem, and again, how do you explain the exact same areas being
attacked on each article of clothing?  It is never the hems or middle of
garments.

The man walked out and said he never saw anything like this without
evidence on a wall or floor and he ruled out moth larvae and silver
fish.

I cannot afford to lose any more clothes not to mention I am emotionally
drained from this as I cannot find anybody that can even offer an idea.
Please note that I emptied the closet twice and saw nothing and as I
said two exterminators examined everything and found nothing.

I have the clothing for evidence.  Please help before I lose everything.
I was told not to move anything into another closet as I can spread this
mystery problem.

   I feel like the clock is ticking.  Please help.  I look forward to a
quick response if at all possible.  Perhaps you can lead me to an
organization that could advise me regarding this mystery if you do not
have a suggestion.