It’s a classic cringe moment. When your favourite pair of jeans tear, your pants split, a button pops off your shirt or a hungry moth goes to work on your favourite winter woolies. It’s inconvenient and all kinds of frustrating. Usually shoved at the back of our closet, most of us have at least one or two items of clothing requiring mending at any one time. We have every intention of ‘fixing’ them, but it can be hard to find the time to sit down and mend the thing or perhaps we don’t even have the skills to fix it.
According to Clean Up Australia, Aussies are guilty of buying an average of 56 garments every year and throwing away 23kg of textile waste per year. Many of those garments could have a longer life if they were altered, mended, donated to charity or sold second hand. Extending the life of an item of clothes even just by 9 months can reduce its carbon, water and waste footprint by 20-30%.
“Buy less, choose well, make it last.” - Vivienne Westwood
So how do we avoid the dreaded ‘mend me’ pile at the back of our wardrobe?
Avoid cheap fast fashion
Many clothes today are bought (and produced) very cheaply. Garments made with low quality fabrics will not stand the test of time or withstand general wear. In the case of fast fashion, it often costs more to repair them, so they end up being discarded, usually to be replaced with more cheap fashion. Break the cycle and say no to fast fashion.
Invest in high quality, robust and timeless pieces
Consider buying fewer items of clothing each year. Invest in timeless wardrobe staples which are high quality, and which will last longer (because they are durable and because they never go out of fashion). Consider a spacious capsule wardrobe of cherished classics over a stuffed wardrobe of trendy trash. Fast fashion is ‘on trend’ at the time of purchase but becomes dated quickly. A small collection of treasured textiles is more likely to be looked after and mended if the need should arise. Choose garments in robust fabrics which are long wearing and are easier to repair such as organic cotton, denim and linen.
Learn basic sewing skills and teach your kids too
Gone are the days of formal sewing lessons at school (though some schools do still incorporate sewing and textile arts into their curriculum) and it’s no longer a skill passed down the generations as it once was. Help your kids to develop a more mindful and sustainable approach to fashion by bringing the skill of sewing into the family. Most towns have after school lessons for kids or adult community classes or local sewing groups to teach basic to more advanced sewing skills.
Discover sewing hacks for simple mending tasks such as iron on / sew on patches for holes or iron on hemming tape (a lightweight fabric tape that is activated by heat) to take up a hem. You’ll find plenty of YouTube videos to give you confidence.
Attend a local “mend it” group
If you would like to learn a new skill and just carve out time to complete the pile of tasks waiting for you, why not join a mending group. Randwick City Council, City of Sydney and City of Canada Bay to name a few, have monthly meet ups for residents to get to together and learn the basic skills of mending in order to reduce waste and save money.
Mending as an art form
Visible mending is a growing trend that celebrates imperfection and artistry in one. A whole community of makers and creatives are emerging who have merged mending with art, not only demonstrating the practical benefits of mending but transforming imperfections into expressions of creativity. Learn the art of visible mending through books, online tutorials or courses or through a Visible Mending group or community.
Outsource your mending
Find someone who can mend your garments if it’s just not your cup of tea. Ask around your friendship group, someone’s mum might be all too happy to help for a small fee. My mum has always been handy with the sewing machine or a needle and thread, so whenever I visit her interstate, I usually shove at least one or two garments needing some textile tending into my suitcase to receive her mending magic.
Sometimes you need to leave it for a professional, and oftentimes this will still be cheaper than replacing the article all together, especially if you factor in the cost of the garment in the first place. Alterations and repairs can involve anything from hemming, mending tears and holes, taking an article of clothing in, or even undoing tucks and seams to make something fit more comfortably. Try local your alternations business, a seamstress or show up at North Sydney’s Repair Cafe for free mending services twice a month.
Tips to avoid clothing damage in the first place
- Place clean woollen items into large snap lock bags when not in use to avoid moth holes
- Always follow garment washing instructions
- Line dry rather than use a clothes dryer where possible. Over time dryer use breaks down textile fibres making them more prone to damage.
- Use gentle plant-based detergents over highly fragranced and chemical based detergents to prolong the life of your clothing
- Hand wash delicate items. Use the appropriate wash cycle on your machine to protect garments
- Extend the life of your garments by washing them less often. Some things like jeans, jumpers and jackets can go many wears before needing a wash.
- Dress appropriately for your day/activity to avoid clothing becoming damaged or dirty. Wear an apron in the kitchen and overalls or old clothes when gardening or completing home maintenance activities.
- Monitor the condition of your clothes regularly, a stitch in time saves nine.
- Treat spillages, spots and stains immediately. Try an old school classic like Sunlight soap or try a plant based enzyme stain remover for marks from chocolate, blood and oil or an oxygen bleach based stain remover for marks from foods such as berries, watermelon and tea.
Mending is as much a mindset as it is a skill, a slow fashion practice which focuses less on consumption and more on care. Save money, reduce waste and extend the life of your garments by becoming a better warden of your wardrobe and tending to your textiles.
Alison Gallagher is a freelance writer, resourcefulness expert and entrepreneur. She has been featured in various publications including Stellar Magazine, Australian Health and Fitness Magazine, and Cleo Magazine. Alison is particularly passionate about sharing practical tips on how to live simply, sustainably and seasonally.
