The lost art of mending
The act of mending clothes is fading in today’s throwaway culture. When we lose a button or a hem comes undone, there are two likely scenarios: worst-case is we bin the item, while best-case sees it relegated to the back of our wardrobe, collecting dust in the hopes our future self might fix it.
What happened to the good old-fashioned needle and thread? What happened to our knack for fixing things?
Once upon a time, sewing was second nature. The seam rips on your favourite pants? You’d sew it back together. The ability to sew was regarded as an essential life skill; no home was complete without a Singer.
The lost art of mending coincides with the evolution of our relationship with clothes. The way we consume clothing has changed dramatically. It’s not news that we’re buying garments at a pace that’s never been experienced before. Large fast fashion houses pump out new products every two weeks. It’s hard to picture now, but there was a time when making a single garment could take up to two months.
Australia has now surpassed the US as the world’s largest consumer of textiles per capita. On average, we’re buying 56 items of clothing each year, with the average price of items costing $13. The constant cycle of new trends is reinforcing a throwaway culture, with prices so low and quality often lacking, it’s no wonder many feel their garments aren’t worth the effort of mending.
People no longer place the same value on clothes they own, knowing they can be replaced so easily. With fast fashion, it’s easier for people to buy rather than repair what they already have.
We are busy people, and our fast-paced lives often leave little room for mindful practices. In a world where convenience reigns supreme, the slow act of repairing a pair of ripped jeans feels like a luxury we can’t afford.
As we continue down this path of disposing rather than preserving, we could be looking at a world where the skills and knowledge needed to repair and repurpose is forgotten.
Still, I’m hopeful. Just as we’ve seen a resurgence of slow crafts like knitting, journaling and scrapbooking, I believe the art of mending, too, can find its way back into our lives and we can choose care over convenience.
