“Visible Mending”: 50 Times Folks Didn’t Give Up On Their Favorite Things And Made Them Even Better (New Pics)

The massive fashion industry shows no signs of slowing down, with clothing production exceeding the actual needs of consumers. It appears that the power to effect change is in our hands, and we should begin with small steps, such as finding ways to minimize the quantity of clothing we purchase. It's essential to resist the allure of tempting offers that encourage acquiring new items at a low cost, even when there's no real need for them.

Why buy new, if very often a small repair is enough to extend the lifetime of our favorite piece of clothing? This seems to be the main motto of Ekaterina Haak, who finds mending solutions for herself and her clients. We have asked her to share with us the inspiration behind starting her profile and her journey into the world of visible mending. We found out that: “Fresh out of communication design studies, with a focus on illustration, I was inspired by the embroidery work I had seen online. The idea of creating art with threads fascinated me, even though I had neither prior experience nor embroidery tools.”

The artist continued: “I ventured into embroidery and decided to experiment by stitching on my own stained t-shirts first. I figured they were already damaged, so I couldn't make them any worse. What can I say? I fell in love with the slow, meditative process. Replacing those stains with tiny cherries and avocados, for instance, transformed what was once a blemish into something delightful. I began sharing my journey on social media, and it wasn't until later that I discovered the term for this art form - visible mending.

Gradually, I started exploring various mending techniques, mending not only my own clothes but everything around the house. The practice extended to include my family, friends, and beyond, driven by the growing demand. Ultimately, it inspired me to establish a mending business.”

Next, we wanted to know what Ekaterina believes the key benefits of visible mending are, both from a creative and sustainability perspective. Haak explained: “Visible mending has revolutionized my perspective on both creativity and sustainability. At the outset, I was unaware of the potential to revive cherished yet damaged clothing. Mending wasn't a tradition in my family, which made this realization both enlightening and tinged with regret for the beloved garments I had discarded in ignorance.

One of the key benefits of visible mending is its forgiving nature. When dealing with traditional mending techniques aimed at, for example, making moth-eaten holes disappear invisibly, it often demands a high level of skill, extensive experience, and access to specialized yarn or materials. Achieving seamless, invisible repairs can be a daunting task, even for seasoned crafters!

In contrast, visible mending presents a refreshing and accessible alternative, open to everyone willing to pick up a needle and thread. This accessibility makes visible mending not only an environmentally conscious choice but also a truly joyful and fulfilling one.”

The artist told us more about her personal approach to this craft: “For me, visible mending is also the ideal way to express myself through wearable art. In my creative past, I made various items, but they were often lost during moves to different cities and even countries. Visible mending is different because my work is right there on the streets, in everyday life, and it doesn't require special storage. It's a form of art that lives on through the clothing it embellishes, offering a lasting and approachable means of expressing my creativity.”

Visible mending often involves incorporating artistic elements into repairs. We were wondering how the artist strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetics in her projects. Haak shared with us: “Balancing functionality and aesthetics in visible mending is crucial. For me, a truly functional repair must not only be aesthetic, but durable and sustainable on every level. My goal is to minimize material use, avoiding new purchases whenever possible. With the demand for commissions and a growing mending pile of my own, I've come to value time. Charging per hour, I aim for repairs that are both efficient and beautiful. For that, I carefully assess projects for feasibility, declining those that might be too time-consuming or resource-intensive, especially if I believe someone else can handle them more effectively.”

Ekaterina’s page showcases various projects. We were curious if the artist could share one of her favorite or most memorable mending stories. Haak said: “There are so many memorable mending stories that have graced my Instagram page!”

“Recently, I had the privilege of repairing the coziest, softest, and longest scarf I've ever held in my hands. As weightless as a cloud, it had become entangled in a bicycle chain and acquired some holes, which I replaced with stars. The craftsmanship that went into creating this scarf was truly admirable. However, it's the emotional value of such items that makes the effort absolutely rewarding.

Then there are the pieces that make their way to my studio from distant places, like cashmere sweaters or vintage pieces from NYC, each with its unique story. There's also the woolen dress from London, which marked one of my first commissions, pushing me beyond the comfort zone of mending for friends and family and into the realm of business.

A personal highlight was mending my own vintage wedding dress from the 1920s. I needed to repair the delicate lace, and to match it, I used my own hair as thread, as no other yarn was fine enough.”

Haak continued: “Sometimes I have the honor of reimagining mending work previously done by others. For instance, take the classic Burberry coat that had been mended by a seamstress but didn't quite resonate with the owner. I was entrusted with replacing a not-quite-invisible patch with embroidery inspired by Paul Klee's art, infusing a completely new character into the piece.

One of the most creative mending projects involved repairing the elbow of a sweater of a fellow female artist. I incorporated visible mending elements inspired by her own artwork, transforming a simple repair into a meaningful collaboration.”

The artist also gave us a sneak peek into the project she’s now occupied with: “One of my current commissions involves creating a field of flowers on a sweater belonging to a remarkable 94-year-old lady. Keep an eye on my Instagram for updates, and get ready to be delighted!”