It can be easy to abandon our resolutions halfway into the first month. The notoriously dark and melancholy Blue Monday might make it even more challenging to maintain motivation and stay on track with our objectives. But it’s crucial to remember that long-term success depends on maintaining momentum. We can overcome Blue Monday’s difficulties and continue advancing toward our goals by proactively planning activities that keep you motivated. I’ve come up with the ideal challenge to keep your sustainable fashion objectives alive beyond January, and it has to do with your closet – Repair and Upcycling Challenge!
Are you prepared to give your worn-out clothes a fresh lease on life?
This February, we’re launching a challenge in London to show you just how easy and enjoyable sustainable fashion can be! Even if you are not in London, you are encouraged to participate. The challenge focuses on repairing and upcycling what we already own instead of constantly buying new clothes. Not only is this great for the environment, but it’s also a great way to save money.
There are so many benefits to repairing and upcycling our clothing, and here are a few;
Landfills:
We keep clothing out of landfills and lower our carbon footprint by mending a tear or a hole. We are well aware that fashion trash frequently ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The problem is enormous; it is estimated that 350,000 tonnes of garments are dumped in landfills annually in the UK alone. And this problem isn’t limited to just the UK, as much of the clothing produced in western countries ends up in landfills in developing countries where the infrastructure to deal with it is inadequate. This exacerbates climate change and other environmental issues. The effort you put into extending the lives of your clothing can help the environment and those who live where fashion’s impact is more tangible.
Financial Benefits
By repurposing our old garments, we may give our wardrobes a brand-new look without spending any money. This gives them a second chance at life. Simple examples of this include putting patches on a denim jacket or cutting a t-shirt into a crop top. It can be as difficult as converting a pair of worn-out jeans into a dress or skirt. You can be imaginative and creative and experiment with various styles and designs when repurposing clothing. It’s an enjoyable and satisfying method to breathe new life into your garments without having to buy any new ones. You can also play with various shades, designs, and textures.
To breathe new life into your wardrobe, you can upcycle it, which is as simple as turning an old t-shirt into a bag or as difficult as transforming a dress into a jacket. It’s an excellent way to give your clothes a new look without spending any money, and the options are unlimited.
New Skills
Clothes repairs and upcycling save the environment and provide a creative outlet and a gratifying way to pick up new skills. You can utilise your creativity to create one-of-a-kind designs by experimenting with various materials, colours, and patterns when you fix or upcycle garments. You can learn skills like stitching, operating a sewing machine, and working with various fabrics. In the future, these abilities can be used for other projects outside of clothing. Giving garments a second chance at life in this way allows for creativity, sustainability, and the acquisition of new skills.
You are probably fretting like me, thinking, there’s no way I will stitch up my jeans or master the sewing machine. Calm down. You don’t have to be a master seamstress to participate in the challenge. London is home to many businesses that offer alteration and repair services to help us out.
Some of our favourites include the following;
Sojo App – connects you with local seamstresses.
At Sojo, they strive to make it easy for you to treat your clothing with the respect it merits. They accomplish that by mending and modifying garments for their customers. Their customers are allowed to wear and adore clothing that is entirely personal to them. Additionally, their repairs and alteration services enable their customers to cherish their clothing for much longer. Visit their website and download the app for this challenge.
Sew.london – provides repairs and upcycling services.
Sew.london is a one-stop shop where you can have your clothes, including suede & leather, altered or repaired, your shirts ironed, and your name or logo embroidered. They go beyond your clothing to curtains and cushions.
The Restory – specialises in high-end designer brands.
From moth hole repair to a Hermes Birkin restoration, the Restory have you covered. They have a unique system that works if you are tight with time. You can choose a preferred collection date and time through their online booking system, and then with their on-demand logistics network, they collect for most of London and overnight anywhere else in the world.
Once the restoration is complete n completion, they’ll return your items beautifully packaged at a time and place convenient for you.
The Seam – connects you with local specialist Makers who repair and transform your wardrobe.
The Seam offers a more intimate offering where you discover local makers based on your location who are more suited to help your repair, alteration or upcycling work.
Reconsidered – Upcycle any item sent to them to a predefined item.
This is too cool, if I may say so myself. From the website, you’d select an item you’ll be sending for upcycling from a list with some details. You get an email with the next steps within 12hrs. You then post or drop off your item at their studio for the rework. Within three weeks, your item will be ready for collection or sent via post.
We’ll be sharing tips and tutorials on our blog and social media channels to help you get started. And we want to see your progress! Share your before-and-after pictures with us on social media using the hashtag #therepairandupcyclecapital. Let’s inspire each other to make the most of what we already own.
So go ahead, dig through your closet and find clothes you haven’t worn in a while. With a little bit of creativity and determination, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in February. Let’s make London the capital of sustainable fashion!
Happy mending, fixing and upcycling!