When your clothes are stained and torn, I just say — lean into it. When I put my beloved Stevie Nicks tee through the washing machine with a pen, and found her covered in black ink spots, I was devastated. But my flatmate convinced me it was rock n roll, exactly what Stevie would’ve wanted. So, wear the torn jeans, keep the paint stains; but if it gets too far, here are some fun ways you can repair your clothes at home.
The first option — for when the hems of my jeans are ruined or I’ve stained the bottom of my tee shirt — requires no sewing skills, simply just cut it off. Turn them into jorts, crop the shirt, and slash the neck too. Afterwards, keep the scraps and use them for patches! My favourite pair of jeans are wearing dangerously thin and falling apart every day, so I patch each new tear with a different piece of denim. The jeans will soon no longer resemble their original form, but how beautiful is that? If you want to fully lean into grandpa-chic, fisherman-core, try patching the elbows of your old jumpers!
This one’s for the patient ones among us: sashiko stitching. Sashiko is a traditional Japanese technique that uses a decorative running stitch to visibly repair clothes. You can patch the hole and sew over the top, or place the patch inside, making a feature of the raw edges while ensuring it doesn’t tear anymore. There are so many creative ways you can make this ancient technique your own and it makes garments look cooler than they did before.
Buy a cheap sewing kit, befriend someone with a sewing machine, or just get your hands on some fabric scissors and glue — it’s way easier than it seems, and keeps your favourite clothes in your wardrobe for longer.
Image by Kate Fowle for The Student
