VISIBLE MENDING
Jeans by Rachel Barclay, Sweater by Erin Eggenburg
The “Visible Mending” trend arose as a response to consumerism and waste, inspiring some to darn, patch, and embroider clothes with intentionally visible mends to celebrate reuse. Barclay says she “channels the Jewish concept of ‘Tikkun Olam’ (‘Repair of the World’), to “elevate the practice of repair” using Sashiko, a traditional Japanese embroidery used in mending and quilting.
“Visibly mended” darned sweaters use techniques seen in 19th century samplers and mended clothes, in colorful new iterations.
Jeans mended and lent by Rachel Barclay, 2023. Sweater mended and lent by Erin Eggenburg, 2023.
Connecting Threads: Compare the sampler and mended garments in the Altering & Mending section.
Fast Fashion and the Environment
—earth.org, theroundup.org
100 billion garments produced worldwide yearly
Producing 92 million tons of waste, with the USA one of the top two contributors
Only 1% of clothes are recycled into new garments
Every American tosses an average of 81 pounds of garments per year
That’s the equivalent of 70 pairs of jeans.
Worldwide, the fashion and textile industries are responsible for
*8%-10% of greenhouse gases
*9% of microplastic pollution in the oceans
*20% of water pollution