Reducing environmental impact
and addressing skills gaps through
responsible wardrobe management

The
Repair Workshops

We collected garments that needed repairing from donations given to the charity and volunteers were given the option to learn either embellishment or darning. In addition to up skilling, it was a great opportunity for us to gather data on the volunteers attitudes and opinions towards repair within the charity retail sector.

Volunteer Workshops:

Our first two Care & Repair workshops offered volunteers from St.Oswalds hospice an opportunity to learn and improve their skills in repairing clothing.

We asked volunteers: 

  • Is repairing a garment important?
  • Do you see value in repairing garments that end up at charity shops?
  • Do you think repaired garments will be sellable?

Public Workshops:

Our final two workshops gathered members of the public along with volunteers to share skills and pass on knowledge.

We asked participants:

  • Would you buy a visibly repaired garment
  • Would you repair your own clothes?
  • Do you see value in mending garments rather than replacing them?

What we Learned:

Thoughtful mending isn’t just functional — it can transform a garment into something beautifully individual.

Repaired garments carry history. When selling them, it’s essential to communicate the story behind the repair to help others see their unique value.

Participants acknowledged the difficulty of selling repaired clothing in a market where brand-new items are so affordable.

Many of the participants expressed how inspiring and motivating it was being surrounded by like-minded people.

There’s a clear need to revive repair skills in schools and communities. Many attendees noted how these valuable practices have been lost over time.

Being in a social environment where everyone was working on repairs together made it a more enjoyable and engaging experience.