How to Know When Something isn’t Worth Mending
Is it worth it?
A threadbare tea towel of no sentimental value became an item to practice different mending techniques, and is no longer used in the kitchen due to its delicate nature!
As I’ve gotten more into the trend of Mend March, it’s been fun to see friends start to participate too! Recently one of these friends mentioned that she never knew whether something was worth mending, so I was inspired to put together this little list. Mending is a powerful and often very personal act—it really mostly depends on your personal tastes, expectations, and limits. With that subjectivity in mind, here is a very loose but hopefully helpful guide!
1. When Repairs Compromise Functionality
If mending something means it no longer works as intended, it might be time to let it go. Some examples of this might include a garment not fitting comfortably after mending, or something that was intended for formal wear becomes much more casual after mending due to the repair’s visibility - in this latter example, it could definitely still be wearable if you’re okay with using it in a different context!
2. When Fixing Costs More Than Replacing
Whether it's time, effort, or money, if repairing something outweighs the cost of a replacement (without sentimental value), it may not be worth it. However, an exception to this might include the fact that a replacement is not always available for whatever reason; I have many beloved items that were thrifted, fast fashion, or were made by small or unknown brands. The items didn’t cost much, and the hunt for a replacement or equivalent alternative may take quite a while since I try to source stuff secondhand. In those cases, I’ll do some kind of low commitment mend in order to “buy more time” until the inevitable replacement.
3. When the Core Structure Is Weak
Mending a clear hole or rip is often much easier than trying to reinforce large areas of something that is threadbare. I’ve mended numerous items only to have a tear or hole develop right next to the mended area! Very frustrating and usually ends with the item getting tossed. On the other hand, I have some items that have a patch overlapping an older patch, and it’s kind of a cool look. As mentioned, pretty subjective.
4. When It No Longer Brings Joy
If you feel grungy wearing the item, a mend may not fix that. Or, maybe you feel grungy after the mend - it might be one of those situations where no one notices the fix but it’s all you can see or think about when you wear it. Or, similar to item #1, if the look or feel of the item becomes way different than it was before the mend, it might end up sitting in the closet or drawer not getting used anymore … this has happened to me a few times and I’ll donate the item or keep it for a swap, rather than tossing it.
5. When You’re Fixing It for the Wrong Reasons
If you're holding on out of guilt, obligation, or habit rather than genuine value, reconsider. If you weren’t wearing it before the repair was needed, you probably won’t wear it after. Not everything is meant to last forever, and that’s okay.
On a related note - How to make mending easier in your life? Invest in quality materials (think natural fibers, real leather), and invest in the tools needed to keep things in good working condition (like a sewing kit, leather conditioner, and various kinds of glue!). Choose basic colors for staple items that get a lot of use (it’s easier to mend black or brown items than an impossible-to-match color), and embrace the imperfect aesthetic of visibly mended items! The message it sends is way cooler than any pricey label, in my opinion.
