# From workshops to the catwalk – why mended clothes are going mainstream

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/from-workshops-to-the-catwalk-why-mended-clothes-are-going-mainstream/
- Published: 2026-10-30T00:00:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T00:49:37+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Science (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmwy9qe5r1z3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Science

## Key points

- Visible mending makes repairs part of a garment’s design.
- Workshops are helping people rediscover traditional repair skills.
- Retailers are turning decorative mending into a mainstream service.

## Summary

Visible mending, in which repairs are made decorative rather than hidden, is spreading from hobby groups and community workshops into shops and fashion shows. Supporters say it helps people value and extend the life of clothes, while challenging the waste associated with fast fashion.

Lincolnshire forest ranger Alice Brown covers clothing flaws with needle-felted animals and insects, while workshops teach techniques such as Japanese Boro and Sashiko stitching. Retailers including Uniqlo and Primark offer repair services or classes, and brands from Ralph Lauren to Shein sell patched garments; Finisterre says about one fifth of its customer repairs are designed to stand out, compared with around a third at Toast.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.