When your softest sweater gets a hole or your favorite jeans start to fray, you may be overcome with grief and assu you need to retire it from your closet. Yet, Kelsey Garner, sewing content creator and founder of handmade clothing line K.S. Garner urges you to think twice before ditching your beloved apparel.
The initial reaction to a damaged garment is to toss it out, but mending is an easy task and prevents clothing from entering the landfill, Garner told HuffPost.
Cat Walshak, owner and facilitator of Sew + Sew Studio in Philadelphia adds that building a lasting wardrobe isnt just only intentional shopping, its about maintaining your clothing the more you wear it.
Withstanding the test of time might be less about the quality of the garments bought versus how they are cared for once you get them home, Walshak told HuffPost. Understand how different fabrics need to be laundered for longevity. Address any issues of tearing or holes sooner than later. [And] understand how different fabrics need to be laundered for longevity.
To get started, Annemarie Hereford , a sewing content creator and founder of upcycling clothing line, Chance by Annemarie reccomends learning some simple hand-sewing techniques like re-attaching a button or hem pants . And while knowing some home repair tips can help you extend the life of your clothes, Hereford also reccomends getting acquainted with a local seamstress or tailor, for extra, extra longevity. This will be a valuable relationship. They will be able to masterfully adjust and repair your garments, which is totally worth it for pieces that you plan to have for a long time, Hereford told HuffPost.
To keep your favorite items in wearable condition for years and years, Garner, Walshak, Hereford and other sewing experts break down everything they recommend for maintain and fixing your clothes at home.
Paul Chevallier , sewing content creator and founder of handmade clothing line Toofbush agrees, saying, " If you've got little rips or holes or worn-down areas, it might be worth it to do a little patching. Even iron-on patches can stop a hole or worn area from spreading into a big rip."
Both Coleman and Chevallier are fans of visible mending, and encourage you to embrace your creativity and style as you put on patches or repair your favorite items. "This is an opportunity to make your garments one of a kind. This type of intentionality in mending will not only honor the clothes you choose to wear by using fun and beautiful techniques to give them a second breath of life," Coleman said.
Annemarie Hereford , founder of upcycling clothing line, Chance by Annemarie says to think of your dryer as a mosh pit. "Its probably the most traumatic thing your clothes will go through," she said. "Its going to make your life harder, but air-drying your clothes will dramatically increase their lifespan."
Their fix? Swap to wool dryer balls, which eliminate static, soften your clothes, help clothes dry faster and are reusable. If you miss the lingering scent of dryer sheets, "You can lightly scent them with essential oils to freshen your laundry as it dries," Singleton said.
"If I have bright colors in my wash I always throw in a color catcher to absorb any dye/pigment that might leach out and be reabsorbed into other clothes. Color sort your clothes when washing, particularly reds, whites and blacks," Coleman said.
To avoid shoulder bumps or misshaping your clothes, Singleton says to upgrade to padded hangers and to opt for folding for any knits or sweaters.
Stella Singleton, owner of Needles & Bolts , a quilt shop and haberdashery in Philadelphia, says a basic sewing kit should contain "needles, thread in various colors, and a small pair of scissors is essential for repairing loose hems, missing buttons, or small tears." She also recommends keeping safety pins, a seam ripper and a pair of small scissors. (Which are all contained in this pictured kit.)
For quick repairs on the go, Singleton recommends keeping a few of the super small and basic kits (like the ones hotels give away). "[I keep] one in the car, one in my tote bag and one in my office desk, if possible," she said.
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