Stories

Fri, 30 Oct 2026

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 From workshops to the catwalk - why mended clothes are going mainstream

A new generation is embracing eye-catching patching and visible mends.

* Alice Brown, a 27-year-old forest ranger from Lincolnshire, has developed a unique style of "visible mending" where she uses needle-felting and other techniques to create decorative repairs on her clothes.
* The trend of visible mending is growing in popularity, with hobby crafters and community workshops embracing it as an act of rebellion against fast fashion.
* Brands such as Uniqlo, Primark, and Finisterre are also adopting the trend, offering in-house repair services and workshops that encourage customers to celebrate their repaired clothes.
* Some retailers, like Toast, offer free repair services with a team of "repair artists" who create unique, eye-catching mends.
* Levi's is launching a workshop program to teach traditional mending skills, but its initial focus has been on more subtle repairs rather than visible mends.
* The trend is seen as a backlash against the damage caused by fast fashion and overproduction in the industry.