Revive your wardrobe: tips to mend your old clothes from home
Fixing your old clothes can be a fantastic way to breathe new life into your wardrobe, reduce your consumption and take action on the climate crisis. We’ve gathered some top tips and tricks to mend and repair your clothes at home, so you don’t have to!
The fashion industry is estimated to produce almost 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is a prediction which is widely disputed due to lack of statistics and research- the number could be much higher. You might have heard the phrase ‘fast fashion’ which has become a household term used for the short turn around and high production rate of garments. As fast fashion is becoming ever more recognised as one of the most polluting global industries,more and more people are turning to secondhand instead of shop-bought.
Everyone has that one loveable holey jumper hiding in the back of their wardrobe right? Fixing your existing clothing pieces can be really rewarding and you can save money by saving yourself from buying more clothes.
Find those clothes! Time to rediscover those old jeans you used to use every day but never seem to wear anymore. If you’re not sure where to begin- start by sorting your clothes into selective piles- KEEP – DONATE/ SELL – FIX. If you have an item you just can’t bring yourself to get rid of that is great! Cherish it and give it a much needed makeover.
The Basics
Not all of us are sewing prodigies - so here are a few basic tips you need to get you started.
Let’s make sure you are using the right equipment. For most everyday tasks you will just need pins, fabric scissors, a needle, and thread. You might need a longer/ shorter or thicker/ thinner needle depending on the type of fabric you’re using. For example, it might be easier to use a thick needle when you are sewing a dense cotton fabric.
If you’re looking for a more detailed step by step guide on sewing techniques, take a look at this great guide by The Spruce Crafts
Fix up!
Time to start fixing. Here are a few helpful resources on fixing your clothes. If you don’t have a sewing machine that’s ok! Most of these tutorials show how you can sew by hand.
Repair holes in fabric
Repair holes in socks (darning)
Repair rips in jeans
Hem (shorten) jeans
Sewing on a new button
Replace a zipper slide
Dye your clothes
Before dying your clothes, make sure you know what fabric you are working with. This can be found on the inside label of your garment. Most natural fabrics will dye well but synthetic fabrics are a bit trickier to work with.
Check out this great step by step guide which will tell you how to choose and prepare your garments for dying.
After watching that you’ll be ready to live out your tie dye dreams! There a few different options you can choose from:
1. Hand/ bucket method:
Share
If you have been inspired to fix up your old wardrobe, share your knowledge with friends, family or maybe just someone who owns some jeans in need of repair. We would love to hear your own personal tips and any successful clothes fixing projects you have been working on.
