Jean-ius Repair Tips
with The Restory
The mending masters share their denim-saving DIYs.
We all have that one pair of jeans. The beloved blues (or blacks, or whites) that have been with you through thick and thin; they’ve survived every wardrobe cull, travelled with you in every suitcase. They’re the pair you swear by.
And we’re of the opinion that, once found, these precious pairs deserve to be kept – and this means navigating a little wear and tear. Enter the art of mending. A patch here, a stitch there… Learning how to repair is a double kindness: extending the lifespan of much-loved jeans, and showing our planet a little compassion in the process.
To mark the launch of our sustainable denim collection, Seen Worn Kept, we reached out to The Restory: a London-based team specialising in fashion repair. From delicate Japanese embroidery to punchy patchworks, their DIY tips make mending an act of joy – a way of breathing life back into your most-worn companion.
Simply find a needle, filch some thread, and prepare to fall in love with your blues all over again…
And we’re of the opinion that, once found, these precious pairs deserve to be kept – and this means navigating a little wear and tear. Enter the art of mending. A patch here, a stitch there… Learning how to repair is a double kindness: extending the lifespan of much-loved jeans, and showing our planet a little compassion in the process.
To mark the launch of our sustainable denim collection, Seen Worn Kept, we reached out to The Restory: a London-based team specialising in fashion repair. From delicate Japanese embroidery to punchy patchworks, their DIY tips make mending an act of joy – a way of breathing life back into your most-worn companion.
Simply find a needle, filch some thread, and prepare to fall in love with your blues all over again…
1. Weave a Technicolour Tale
Perfect for smaller areas of damage, this embroidery technique is about delighting in the detail. First, place a piece of material on the inside to give structure, then, weave threads of coloured cotton across any holes or rips. The technique gives rise to areas of cross-hatched pigment, adding interest and beckoning a closer look…
Perfect for smaller areas of damage, this embroidery technique is about delighting in the detail. First, place a piece of material on the inside to give structure, then, weave threads of coloured cotton across any holes or rips. The technique gives rise to areas of cross-hatched pigment, adding interest and beckoning a closer look…
2. Blend to Mend
If your older jeans are starting to look a little worse for wear... Show thinning areas some love using a similarly-coloured thread, taking care to follow the grain of denim. The lines of stitching mimic these grains, so the mend integrates seamlessly. If the damage is particularly bad, just reinforce the stitches with a piece of material on the inside. This will ensure the repair is strong and long-lasting.
If your older jeans are starting to look a little worse for wear... Show thinning areas some love using a similarly-coloured thread, taking care to follow the grain of denim. The lines of stitching mimic these grains, so the mend integrates seamlessly. If the damage is particularly bad, just reinforce the stitches with a piece of material on the inside. This will ensure the repair is strong and long-lasting.
3. Pretty Patchwork
Use denim patches – or, if you’re feeling bright, a vibrant swatch of patterned fabric – to repair large rips or damage. Sew the patch over the hole, making sure it’s securely in place. You can play around with stitching and types of thread and give your inner-creative free reign. Trust us – standard jeans won’t be a patch on your newly-mended pair...
Use denim patches – or, if you’re feeling bright, a vibrant swatch of patterned fabric – to repair large rips or damage. Sew the patch over the hole, making sure it’s securely in place. You can play around with stitching and types of thread and give your inner-creative free reign. Trust us – standard jeans won’t be a patch on your newly-mended pair...
4. Peek-Through Prints
Alternatively, rips and hole can be patched from the inside. This allows you to maintain the rough-and-ready texture of frayed edges, without compromising the structural integrity of your jeans. To mend, turn the pair inside out, and repeat the above patching technique on the interior side.
Top tip: use contrasting denim – or a different material altogether – to add a one-of-kind accent (or peeking pop of colour).
Alternatively, rips and hole can be patched from the inside. This allows you to maintain the rough-and-ready texture of frayed edges, without compromising the structural integrity of your jeans. To mend, turn the pair inside out, and repeat the above patching technique on the interior side.
Top tip: use contrasting denim – or a different material altogether – to add a one-of-kind accent (or peeking pop of colour).
5. Sashiko Chic
Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery repair technique, where white cotton thread is used to repair dark-wash denim. Simple running stitches are woven to strengthen weak material and, if needed, attach a patch. The effect is clean, contemporary, and visually striking – ideal for giving older jeans a modern twist.
Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery repair technique, where white cotton thread is used to repair dark-wash denim. Simple running stitches are woven to strengthen weak material and, if needed, attach a patch. The effect is clean, contemporary, and visually striking – ideal for giving older jeans a modern twist.