A “make do and mend” mentality is spreading through the high street as retail chains offer free clothes repairs — with some organising sewing workshops to teach customers how to fix or alter garments themselves.
Brands that offer free repairs or alterations include Levi’s, Burberry, Whistles, J Crew, Toast, Patagonia and Uniqlo. Toast will repair clothes of any age, but others impose a limit. Whistles will only repair items less than six months old.
Some chains hold workshops so customers can bring in garments and learn to fix them. Nudie Jeans offers to post a free sewing kit to make the repairs yourself if travelling is inconvenient.
Experts say the trend responds to a desire among women to be eco-friendly, repairing rather than repeatedly buying