Tips and inspiration
- You can extend the life of your clothes by mending them when holes and tears appear. Taking care of what you already own is an important part of a slow fashion mindset. Plus, it means you don’t have to say goodbye to your favourite outfits!
- You don’t need to be a professional tailor to repair your clothes. Check out Repair What You Wear for beginner-friendly tutorials to get you started.
- Get inspired by the artistry of visible mending.
- Not sure you know your needle from your seam ripper? Here’s some advice on what you might need in your sewing repair kit.
The big picture
Around 300,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown out each year in the UK.
Lengthening the lifespan of clothes by nine months could lead to a 20–30% reduction in their carbon, waste and water footprints.
Source:
UK Parliament Fixing Fashion Report (2019)
Image © RymanStudio/ Shutterstock
Why is this action beneficial?
Learn a new skill
Once you’ve mastered simple hand stitches you can move on to more complicated repairs. With tonnes of tutorials on YouTube, each technique you learn will expand your skills so you can maintain anything in your wardrobe.
Reduce waste
Mending your clothes means fewer items end up in landfill. Many textiles take a long time to break down. Synthetic ones such as polyester can take up to 200 years.
Save money
Repairing your clothes is a much cheaper option than replacing them. When it comes to buying new clothes, buying less and spreading out your purchases allows you to invest in high-quality, timeless pieces. In turn, these will require fewer repairs.
Improve health
Slowing down and taking time to mend the clothes you love can be a great way to unwind and practice mindfulness.
Reduce pollution
As some of our clothes decompose, they release harmful chemicals that can contaminate water and soil. In addition to this, synthetic fibres are a source of microplastic pollution.
Advocate for others
Fast fashion often exploits underpaid workers, mostly women in the Global South, working in poor conditions. Mending your clothes fosters an appreciation for the labour that goes into every item in your closet and reduces demand on these unethical supply chains.
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