Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Visible mending moves from workshops to fashion brands and catwalks
Visible mending makes clothing repairs part of the design rather than hiding holes, stains or tears.
In Lincolnshire, forest ranger Alice Brown uses needle-felted animals and insects to cover damage on clothes, while a Brighton workshop teaches decorative patching and stitching.
The trend has grown from hobby crafting and community workshops and has reached designer catwalks this year.
Mending once focused mainly on saving money by keeping clothes in use, but fast fashion weakened the habit and the skills needed to repair them.
Supporters see visible repairs as a response to overproduction and the pollution, carbon emissions, water use and poor labour conditions linked to the fashion industry.
Fashion retailers are now selling patched garments and offering repair services, with Uniqlo saying it wants to help customers extend the life of clothes they already own.
Visible mending, which makes clothing repairs decorative, is spreading from hobby crafters and community workshops to fashion brands and designer catwalks.
The trend took off about six years ago and has boomed since, according to workshop teacher Jayne Eagle.
Alice Brown, a 27-year-old forest ranger from Lincolnshire, uses needle-felted animals and insects to cover holes and stains.
Some retailers sell new garments with stitched or patched details, while others offer repairs and workshops.
Supporters of mending see it as a way to extend clothing life and respond to the effects of fashion-industry overproduction.
- Who
- Hobby crafters, workshop teachers and fashion retailers are involved. Alice Brown and Jayne Eagle are among those featured.
- What
- Visible mending is moving from workshops into fashion brands and catwalks. Repairs are made decorative rather than hidden.
- When
- The trend took off about six years ago and has boomed since. Mended styles reached designer catwalks this year.
- Where
- The story features a workshop in Brighton and Alice Brown in Lincolnshire. Retailers including Uniqlo and Primark are also mentioned.
- Why
- Supporters use visible mending to celebrate repairs and extend the life of clothes. Jayne Eagle sees the revival as a response to overproduction and its harms.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Throwaway fast fashion undermined the tradition of looking after and mending clothes, Jayne Eagle says.
The visible-mending trend took off, according to Eagle.
Alice Brown developed her style of needle-felting animals and insects over clothing flaws.
Visible mended style reached designer catwalks.
- Alice Brown
- 27-year-old forest ranger from Lincolnshire
- Jayne Eagle's workshop
- Brighton
- Trend began
- About six years ago
- Techniques
- Boro and Sashiko-inspired stitching
- Retailers mentioned
- Ralph Lauren, Shein, Uniqlo and Primark
What people are saying
We want to give customers practical ways to extend the life of the clothes they already love, rather than simply replacing them
act of rebellion
Now part of it is being proud of what you've done
I see it as challenge