Fast fashion has a cost. But there's one action that cuts it more than recycling, buying "eco" ranges or donating: wearing the clothes you already own for longer. With jeans, that usually just means a repair.
Why jeans have such a big footprint
Denim is mostly cotton, a thirsty crop that needs a lot of water and land, and often pesticides. Then come spinning, indigo dyeing, weaving, finishing, washing treatments and shipping around the world. By the time a pair reaches the shop, a great deal has gone into it. Binning it over one small hole wastes all of that.
The repair gap
Surveys in the UK consistently find that far fewer people repair their clothes than say they would be willing to. Often it isn't reluctance. People simply don't know where to go, or assume a repair will look bad or cost more than it's worth. In reality, most common jeans repairs cost a fraction of a new pair and are barely visible.
What can actually be repaired?
Almost everything that sends jeans to the bin:
- Holes in the crotch, the most common failure (guide)
- Ripped knees and long tears (guide)
- Broken zips and missing buttons
- Worn pocket bags, torn back pockets and belt loops
- Fit problems: hems, waists and leg width
Small habits, longer-lasting jeans
- Wash less. Air jeans between wears and spot-clean marks.
- Wash cold and inside out, and skip the tumble dryer.
- Fix early. A small hole is a quick job; a big one is a big job.
- Buy better. See how to buy jeans that last.
- Buy second-hand. See buying vintage jeans.
Finding a repairer
Local tailors and dry cleaners often do basic repairs. For denim-specific work, specialist studios increasingly take jeans by post, such as Repair My Denim in Cambridge, which repairs jeans from across the UK. Its mission page is a good read on the UK's repair gap.