The Loveliness of Fixing Clothes

There have often been long periods of time in my life when I have limited amounts of clothing. Usually because I’m living out of my backpack for a couple of months, but also during my home life, simply because I don’t like buying new clothes.

Generally, I love not having that much stuff (see the linked article), but sometimes things can break and it can get frustrating. Trousers that I expected to last for another six months can get huge rips because of some small parkour challenge. Jumpers can get shredded during climbing. Shoes take a beating from daily use.

Two years ago, while away in Lisbon for fieldwork, disaster struck. I had one pair of trousers with me, and they got absolutely shredded from parkour. Anyone with a small sense of decency would have gotten new ones and thrown the old ones away. But not me!

I had superglue in my bag, and used this to close up the ripped fabric. It wasn’t optimal, but it would last a few days. It might rip again, but superglue was always there to help. Eventually, my trousers were more superglue than fabric. I had to get new ones, but their lifespan was extended at least a month.

A sewn up armpit

The following year, the same thing happened. However, I was more prepared. I had a needle and thread with me this time around. Instead of using superglue like a barbarian, I was able to stitch up the hole. It wasn’t pretty, but it was surprisingly strong.

And as a bonus, sewing was relaxing, meditative, and even quite fun.

Unfortunately, the stitches didn’t last too long, but I was able to drag another couple of months out of my trousers.

Cut forward to this year, and I experienced the winter trouser curse yet again. This time I wanted my trousers to last for much longer. Not just to preserve their life for a couple of months, but to artificially extend their life past that of any normal pair of trousers!

My dodgy patching skills

My dodgy patching skills

The rip was in the crotch, and it was significant. Everything was exposed. I decided to employ an extreme tactic: patching. Armed with my friends' socks as makeshift patches (chosen for their stretch factor), I embarked on some sketchy sewing and integrated two patches into the rip. It’s not pretty, but three weeks later, it seems to be holding strong.

I’m not very good at sewing. But fixing clothes has so many benefits, and not being good at something never stopped anyone before. Sewing up clothes expands their lifespan, is a very satisfying process, and creates a deeper relationship between you and your clothing.

Moreover, it’s financially beneficial. A needle and thread cost much less than a new item of clothing and are certainly a more sustainable option than immediately replacing something when it breaks.

Get fixing, friends!