By working with your hands, the process of mending also calms the mind and allows you to think deeply about things that are personal to you. It’s about the journey and not the destination although, in this case, the destination can have a beautiful visual effect. I shared my personal mending techniques with clients and friends at my private atelier last month and found that there is great interest in the age-old practice of mending.

There are a few reasons why the art of mending matters has such appeal. By repairing a garment you gain a better understanding of it from a construction standpoint and connect yourself in a way to the original maker.

“When we spend time patching, stitching, darning, or otherwise fixing torn fabrics, we ultimately deepen our understanding of quality, composition, and craftsmanship.”  —Excerpt from Mending Matters

Repairing a favorite garment

There’s also the environmental aspect. Mending can be a counterpoint to the dark side of consumption in the fashion industry. Lily Fulop, author of Wear, Repair, Repurpose: A Maker’s Guide to Mending and Upcycling Clothes, writes that “mending is an act of resistance — a rejection of the sort of capitalism that puts profit before the planet.” She even coined the term ‘Craftivism’ noting that the act of mending clothes is a form of activism that sends a message about reducing waste and minimizing environmental damage.

Mending can also improve your mental well-being. Taking time to do something with your hands, like the simple act of stitching, can create feelings of awareness and joyfulness. Mending is proof of the possibility of renewal. It also helps to reduce ‘eco-anxiety’ because it’s a concrete way to take action against the unsustainable practices in the fashion industry.

Working with your hands

Teaching Mending Textiles in 2023

I will be teaching Mending Textiles Matters classes at The Art Student’s League in Denver. (If these links don’t work for you, scroll to the search box and select Fall Adult 2023, Brooks Luby, from the dropdown menu.) Dates are Oct 6, 2023 and Nov 17, 2023. Hope to see you there!

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I love that designers are now starting to come up with ways to make the old new again, such as Eileen Fisher’s Renew program, which recycles some of the older fashion design pieces by her. They take them back so that they don’t end up in a landfill, and clean or repair them before re-selling them at a discounted price. It’s a great sustainable program and I love the concept!

How Brooks LTD Clothing Designs Are Sustainable

I like to think of my designs as sustainable in a few ways. Since I have had several years of experience and longevity in the field of fashion, I frequently see long-time clients that have been following me for years who still have designs purchased from me hanging in their closets.

It may be because they have personally interacted with me and feel compelled to keep the garments longer than other items they buy, hoping they’ll wear them again or pass them down to a deserving friend or family member. Or maybe some of them still wear clothing they purchased from me, since they are unique, hand-made and often custom-designed just for them!

Examples of My Sustainable Designs

My designs show the test of time. Many of them are classic, timeless, and are still well loved despite temporary trends coming and going. Take for example this strapless gown I designed 11 years ago. It’s still current today — that’s sustainable fashion.

Photographer:  Lynda Handshaw Photography

This kimono showcased in a fashion show three years ago is still current:

Photographer: Meredith Harris Photography

Photographer: Kiersty Bell Mallory

I had a good friend/client stop by last year with three bags full of my designs that she couldn’t part with. I of course took them and cleaned, pressed, and hung them in my atelier. When clients shop even today, they notice them and ask questions. Some even try them on, wanting to purchase them. This has created a curiosity for me, and I like to think that this allows them to live on longer while playing a part in sustainable fashion.

Support Local Fashion Designers

When working with a custom dress or clothing designer, you not only get the chance to make something truly unique made just for you, but you can also help lessen your environmental footprint by working with more eco-friendly brands. At Brooks LTD, we can take vintage clothing items and repurpose them to give new meaning to previously used fabrics. Reach out to us online or call (303) 573-3801 today to get in touch!

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