Breaking the Fast Fashion Cycle: Mending Instead of Discarding

Photo by Joseph Sharp on Unsplash

There are many clothes in my closet that are too small or damaged by use. I have worn four pairs of jeans for a long time, so the knees and buttocks, which are the parts that get the most wear and tear, start to get holes over time.

I used to use damaged clothes or trousers as a reason to buy new ones. I’d rather have it fixed now. The problem is that it’s harder to find repair services than it is to buy new things. Like, I’m fixing my Reebok that are seven years old. The outsole was worn down and had to be changed. Most shoe repair shops can only replace the soles of dress shoes made of leather. Finally, I found a repair shop in Bandung, which is three hours by train from where I live.

Finding someone skilled to fix clothes and shoes these days can feel like an adventure compared to the easy click-and-buy culture of fast fashion. But what if this problem turned out to be a chance? We have a chance to break out of the cycle of throwing things away and give our old clothes new life.

Inexpensive clothes that are easy to find have definitely led to a “consume-and-discard” mindset. Trends come and go like butter, making us always want to follow the newest styles and throwing away clothes in their wake. Each throwaway item makes me think about how it affects the world, from the huge amounts…