Is this repairable?

A question I get in the shop a lot “Is this repairable?”. A majority of the time the short answer is “Yes.” The longer answer?…

It depends on your expectations. There are a lot of different ways to repair and mend clothing. Fabric composition and the amount of damage all are factors. The amount you are willing to spend on the repair also will factor in. I think it is really important that you set your expectations with your tailor to open the dialogue on what they are comfortable doing, and with what you are hoping for.

Sometimes a repair may cost more than the original cost of the garment. Ultimately this is up to you to decide if it is “worth it”. Some factors to consider are the environmental impact a garment has. The sentimental value of the garment. Depending on the garment visual mending can add really special and unique design elements.

Along with the idea of repair and mending, I think it is important for people to lose the stigma that repairs, mends, and stains make a garment not presentable. These are all part of a garments story, as well as your own story. These make a garment more memorable and often times more beautiful.

If this topic interests you a few books worth checking out

-Loved Clothes Last - Orsola de Castro

-Worn Stories - Emily Spivak

Patagonia has a lot of great videos on their YouTube Channel. Their videos in their “Worn Wear” playlists are all very well done.

I am also working my way through a book called “The Culture of Sewing (Gender, Consumption and home Dressmaking)” it has a compilation of a lot of different historical research by different authors. It reminded me of how much I appreciate my own mom and my grandma repairing my garments when I was younger. The stories and information changed how I view fashion and clothing as a whole.

Thanks for reading this one. Here is a video of me repairing my wife’s favorite jeans.