Everyone knows thrifting is a great way to shop more consciously. But whether you buy new or secondhand, the next step is taking care of what you own. Which is why mending is trending! Mending is to repair your clothes by sewing or darning –something earlier generations learned in high school home economics class. (which fell out of favor largely due to it being a class for girls only/sexist)
You don’t have to be an avid sewer to learn how to mend your clothing. In ‘Loved Clothes Last’ Orsola de Castro, Co-Founder of Fashion Revolution, states: “there is no way we can continue like this, as our resources are finite and will soon be limited in availability”.
Mending can seem intimidating at first, especially if you don’t know how to sew. There are some great books but videos can make it easier to learn. It is actually easy to find resources that show you step-by-step instructions. As Tik-Tok is one of the most popular social media platforms, you can find accounts dedicated to fashion and helping you create an ethical industry. Ysabel Hilado, a popular tik-toker, uses her platform to post bi-weekly design, sewing, and style content. A great resource for basic alterations, upcycling techniques, and DIYs! She demonstrates basic sewing crafts that are easy to follow and replicate. We’re sharing some here.
Basic Alterations: How to Hem Pants
3 Ways to Upcycle A Denim Jacket
Here Hilado goes over 3 basic ways to upcycle a denim jacket. The first is distressing and fraying, and this is a great method to give your clothing an aged look. The second is cropping, which means to cut off length and make the clothing shorter. Cropped clothing has become a staple in the fashion industry for years and is a very simple way to keep your clothing up to date. The last technique shows you how to remove the collar, cuffs, and bottom band off of your denim jacket. This turns the jacket into a shacket which has become a popular apparel piece.
How to Add an Elastic Waistband to Shorts
You may run into a problem where an old pair of shorts no longer fits anymore. Instead of giving that pair of shorts away, Hilado shows you how to add an elastic band to the waist of your shorts. This will make your shorts stretchy and wearable again! She shows you the kind of elastic band to use and how to insert it into your shorts. This method is not limited to just shorts but really any article of clothing you want.
How to Add a Slit into a Dress of Skirt
Want to make a dress feel new again? Adding a slit can give it a fresh look and comfortable fit! Hilado demonstrates this easy hack to insert a slit into your dress going over the process step by step. She lists the measurements and tools you’ll need to execute this method making it simple and easy to follow along.
DIY Blazer to Two Piece Set
Blazer’s are a staple piece in any wardrobe, but the recent two piece blazer set has become popular. You may have an old blazer from years ago that is not up to date with trends, so instead of buying a new two piece blazer set you can upcycle your old one! Hilado reveals an easy DIY to create a stylish look out of an old simple blazer. This is a creative way to give that blazer a longer life!
The reality is if we do not change our ways the earth as we know it will cease to exist. As daunting as that sounds, it can be viewed as encouraging rather than dooming. We have the power to change the way we treat our planet. Orsola also says “we don’t have to go far to gather the knowledge to make our clothes last longer” and this is exactly right. With advanced technology, information is literally right at our fingertips. Use your resources and help build a better planet with us.