Last Updated on November 6, 2024

Clothing repair is a lost art but a valuable skill everyone should learn. Learning how to repair a hole in clothing, how to fix buttons, or how to repair shoes means that you won’t have to toss it and buy something new.

Next time one of your favorite items starts to wear out, I challenge you to repair clothing instead of replacing it. While repairing clothing may not yet be a skill you have in your toolbox, anyone can learn how to do it! Clothing repair is a simple and effective way to live a zero waste lifestyle, save money, and enjoy the clothes you have.

why repair clothing

Unfortunately, a lot of clothing items are not made to last. Fast fashion has become more common, and many people have gotten used to buying cheaply made items because of c their convenience. 

This has caused us to lose value in our possessions. Let’s be honest, it’s easy to buy things without thinking about what happens after they stop working.

I really want to encourage you to think about the lifespan of your products.

Focus on purchasing clothing that can be repaired. I keep this in mind even when secondhand shopping.

benefits of clothing repair

It’s day 13 of the zero waste challenge! Today, I challenge you to change the way you think about clothing and the value of repairing items instead of replacing them.

Being intentional with the clothing that you buy and repair is a great way to save money and enjoy what you have.

buy less

Instead of filling your home or closet with all the things, focus on filling it with a few key pieces you really love.

I don’t know about you, but when I have an item that I adore, it’s so much easier for me to want to repair it than to replace it.

I think you’re more likely to repair clothes that mean a lot to you. If it’s not something that you would consider repairing, you might not truly need it in the first place.

buy intentionally

Focus on buying things that you truly love! If you just feel okay about something, that’s not good enough.

If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. You need to spend your hard-earned money on things that only make you excited!

I’ve been building my wardrobe this way and everything I put on makes me happy. I try to repair clothing items that I love because they are just that important to me.

buy to last

When you make purchases, I encourage you to think about their lifespan. Think about their quality.

When I buy secondhand I always look to see how the stitching looks or what fabric it’s made from. All of these details matter because I’m thinking about clothing repair in the future.

Any amount of money is an investment in something I want to keep forever.

the challenge

I want you to focus on basic repair techniques. I challenge you to learn 2 from the list below, and you don’t even have to do it yourself!

It’s becoming more difficult to locate tailors and cobblers, but they’re out there. Take a minute today to look up where the nearest shops are, and save this information for the next time you want to repair clothes.

You can prevent good items from winding up in the landfill.

• Sew a hole
• Fix a button  
• Get to know a tailor
• Find your local cobbler 
• Go to an electronics repair shop
• Locate your local repair shop for vacuum, sewing machine, etc.  
• Invest in a sewing machine or other repair supplies
• Darn a sock
• Fix a leak

Will you be taking the challenge?

clothing repair faqs

how does repairing clothing help the environment?

When you repair instead of replace, you give your clothing a new life and keep it out of landfills. This is also one way to fight overconsumption and challenge the problem of fast fashion.

where can I learn to repair clothing?

Not sure where to start? No problem! You can find plenty of easy tutorials on YouTube, from learning how to repair a hole in clothing, to adding a cute new button. Following along with step-by-step videos is a great way to learn a new skill –– and best of all, you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

is it expensive to repair clothes?

It can sometimes be more expensive to take an item to the local tailor, but what you pay there can save you from having to spend more on replacing it. The most affordable repairs are done at home. Clothing repair can actually save you a lot of money because it’s cheaper to buy some buttons or thread than it is to replace a whole item with one hole.