Use It or Lose It: The Role of Repair
Aug 01, 2024
I believe that one of the best ways we can fearlessly use our things is by learning to mend and repair them. It wasn’t until the 1950’s and 60’s that “disposable” products really came about through the invention of cheap plastics - before that, it was common practice to use things until they were worn out, and then repair and continue to use them.
Whether they are keepsakes from childhood, precious gifts from people we love, or expensive items for special occasions, we all seem to have those priceless pieces that we keep tucked away for fear of ruining them in our day-to-day bustle. We wouldn’t want anything to go to waste!
There’s just one small problem with that: if we tuck all our precious belongings away, never to be used, aren’t they still being wasted?
My experience, of course, is largely in the field of textiles, and luckily we are seeing a huge resurgence of repair in that industry. Not only are folks looking to extend the lives of their worn garments, but they are mending visibly and wearing their mends like a badge of honour. A torn knee or blown out thigh is no longer the end of a pair of jeans - instead, it becomes a part of the garment’s story, just like our own scars. Sashiko is a huge part of the visible mend movement, reinforcing fabric, emphasising and beautifying rips and tears.
Its great to see large corporations, like the outdoor clothing store Patagonia, are looking for sustainable options beginning with making high–quality, responsibly sourced clothing that lasts for years, that can also be repaired—and they guarantee it for life. They’ve even trained their retail staff to handle the simple repair jobs and they’ve partnered with iFixit to publish more than 40 free repair guides for Patagonia products on their website. [1]
And its great that Patagonia are paving the way for other companies, such as Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Selfridges, and Uniqlo who are also offering mending services [2]
Embracing this concept of beloved over pristine can help us come to terms with using our special things. Yes, it’s possible that your grandmother’s favourite teacup will break if you use it every day - but if it brings you a smile and a memory of Nan each time you drink from it, perhaps it’s better to risk it than to tuck it away, safe and sound and never to be used. And if it breaks, you can always try kintsugi (the Japanese art of mending ceramics using gold to highlight and celebrate the breaks) or glue it back together and upcycle it into a plant pot or candle holder - something that will continue to bring you joy when it’s used.
Not only does repairing items help you enjoy them, but when you do part with that item, it will carry those stories with it to the next owner. Recently, I was helping my family go through the storage boxes of a deceased relative. There were a shocking number of brand new items, all packed away in bins - some still in the boxes. Perhaps they were originally destined to be gifts, or perhaps they were tucked away for a special occasion - either way, they were long forgotten.
Despite those many items being in pristine condition, nobody wanted to take them home. What our family members wanted were the items that we remembered from childhood, the ones that were well-used and well-loved and had a story.
The piggy bank that was so obviously glued back together.
The scuffed, gold-painted stand that always held a recipe book.
The hand-pieced quilt that needs a few patches.
What makes these items special is that they were cherished, and loved, and used in daily life. They became precious in their own right because of their usefulness, and then they become even more precious because now they display the love and respect of the user through the act of repair. The object was important enough, or precious enough for the owner to invest time to mend or repair it. These things have the scars to prove their usefulness, hinting at tales of its use by its former user. There is something that we gravitate towards when we can see the mark of the maker or user when an object has been worn out or repaired through use. Perhaps it is the small imperfections and wear marks, or the understanding that something was loved so much it was used until it was worn out, but there is something this resonates that we can connect with on a deeply personal, and human connection.
I even gravitate toward mended items in secondhand shops, because I love the undiscovered stories of the objects and their users! I'll never forget the day when I realised that most of the objects and things in my life will outlive me. Some of which will be my legacy, others long forgotten and discarded, perhaps to resurface one day on someones beach combing expedition (see my instagram post about Lisa Woollett's book "Rag and Bone" for an interesting read about finds whilst mudlarking)
Do you have a beloved item that’s been repaired? Or something special tucked away that you’re inspired to use? I’d love to hear all about it. Leave a message in the comments below.
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