Modern Revival of Repairing Clothes: The Social Media Mending Trend
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- By Alandra Joseph - Isaac
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Image Source: Freepik
The Art of Mending Clothing
Have you ever noticed those fashion reels with someone mending a shirt or a pair of jeans with a needle and thread? These types of videos come from the mending trend on social media. This article will explore what mending is, how it influenced fashion in the 1940s, introduce easy hand sewing methods, and finally, the online impact of this trend.
Mending can restore and extend the life of a garment. This is a simple way to fix wear and tear in clothing.
Methods like replacing a zipper, patching rips, and sewing buttons are all ways to repair clothing. Mending clothes can be done with limited resources, such as using a needle and thread. A sewing machine is not required for the simplest repairs.
Make - Do and Mend
Image Source : National Archives
During WWII, the slogan ‘Make Do and Mend’, rooted in a governmental campaign, was cultivated out of necessity. Due to the challenges faced in society, there were regulations on the supply of clothing. The public was encouraged to utilize what they already had in their closets. They would maintain, mend, and repurpose the items they already had. Mending at this time gave life to creativity and personal expression in fashion.
3 Easy Hand Stitching Techniques
The Running Stitch
The running stitch, also known as the gathering stitch, is a simple hand stitching technique. It’s beneficial for mending patches and rips found in clothing. This is a helpful hand stitching technique.
Image Source : Penguinandfish.com
The Backstitch
The backstitch is a hand stitching technique that offers a secure hold. It's sturdy because there is an overlap of the previous stitch. The backstitch helps mend tears in clothing and is great for seam stitching.
Image source: Penguinandfish.com
The Blanket Stitch
The blanket stitch is a sturdy stitch that reinforces the edging of thicker materials. It’s beneficial for preventing raw edges and rips. This is a helpful stitching technique to use for mending, especially thicker clothing.
Image source : Penguinandfish.com
Modern Fashion Repair Trends
Image Source: Freepik
The Guardian wrote an article named ‘Trend to mend: cost of living crisis puts darning back in vogue’. This article recognized the rise of the mending trend on social media. Because of the Internet's convenience, platforms like YouTube and TikTok have become learning hubs for eco-friendly and thrifty individuals to learn how to maintain and repair their clothing. Slowly but surely, this mending trend can be seen on social media users' feeds.
Hashtags like up-cycling fashion and circular fashion have been seen on the internet through how-to videos and mending tutorials. Research conducted by the waste charity Warp found that mending a garment could prolong its usage by 9 months. This allows for a lower carbon and water footprint, which is about 20-30%.
Whether you're looking for a new hobby or are interested in prolonging the life of your closet, learning the skill of hand stitching and clothing repair could offer great benefits.
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