We’re all trying to navigate a more sustainable life and restoring and repairing your existing wardrobe is one of the best ways to lessen your impact. We can’t deny the appeal of browsing Zara’s New In section or popping a just-in-case buy into your ASOS basket but even if you’re shopping the fastest fashion, you should think about lessening your wardrobe’s end of life impact and extending that lifespan as far as you can.
When your favourite jeans get a little threadbare, your most treasured party dress has a bit too much fun on the dance floor or the buttons start to hang off your trench coat, don’t deliver it straight to the charity shop or send it to landfill (like the nearly £1billion-worth of fashion that ends up in the bin each year.) If you love something enough to buy it, keep on wearing it (more than 30 times) then get it mended or restored at our pick of the best places to bring new life to your clothes.
Valentino
First and foremost a dry cleaners, Valentino is where the entire fashion pack – from designer brands like Alexander McQueen, Dior and Saint Laurent – send their samples for a zjuzh. But they also offer a useful repair and alteration service that can offer everything from the basics – like refitting a zip or taking up a hem – to readjusting the entire fit of a gown.
Blanc
This eco-friendly dry cleaners uses the ‘wet’ method and liquid CO2 to clean your clothes but also offer tailoring, alterations and repair services. You can pop into one of the store’s fitting rooms to get your garms measured; get your items picked up from home; or post your pieces into them with instructions. Blanc offer WhatsApp consultations to walk you through the alteration options to ensure your outfit upgrade is exactly what you expect.
Sojo
Josephine Philips was frustrated that her favourite thrifted and vintage fashion wasn’t always a perfect fit and DIY alterations would take too much time and effort to undertake. Her solution? Launching the Sojo app last year which connects clothes owners (currently in London) with local tailors and seamsters who can get repairs done super-conveniently with a push-bike pick-up.
Mandalia Tailors
One from the secret address books of many well dressed Londoners, Mandalia can reline a coat, taper the shoulders of a suit, hem your jeans, replace zips or buttons, nip in the waist of a blazer, twist sleeve seams to suit your own posture and reshape and dress. Some alterations are available on the same day too. Phew.
The Restory
A company specifically set up to take care of your precious accessories, The Restory takes love worn handbags and beaten-up shoes and makes them look like new in their ateliers. Colour-matching to any shade of the rainbow, completely restructuring the sole of a shoe or repairing pen or nail polish spills on your pale leather bags… They will pick up worldwide and send your items back immaculately restored.
Untied Workshops
With a motto to #WearCareRepair, Untied host workshops in London when you can learn to mend and repair your clothes. Now restrictions are lifting their sessions are coming back. Head to their instagram account to find out how to attend…