Forgotten Genius: How Thomas Jennings Changed Clothing Care Forever

[00:00:00] Before modern dry cleaners, there was a problem. No one could how to clean delicate clothes without ruining them. [00:00:08] Enter Thomas Jenning, a skilled tailor from New York City with a groundbreaking idea. [00:00:14] In 1821, he invented a method called dry scouring, a way to clean clothes without water. It became the foundation of modern dry cleaning. [00:00:24] That same year, Jennings made history as the first African American to receive a U.S. patent. [00:00:30] But his impact didn't stop there. He used the profits from his invention to support the fight against slavery years before the American Civil War. [00:00:39] Today, every trip to the dry cleaner traces back to his innovation. [00:00:44] Thomas Jennings, the man who changed how we care for what we wear.