Repair matters; the stats are in!

Thanks to the latest WRAP report we finally have some statistics about how choosing to repair our clothes and buying second hand is having an impact.

I’ve learnt so much from WRAP over the years and honestly it’s a great feeling being able to back up what I do with statistics in those moments where it can feel like a battle to get my point across about why I do what I do.

A few key points from the report:

🪡 Repairing our clothes has been shown to displace the need for buying new items by 82%.

This shows that we’re placing value on the pieces already in our wardrobes, showing the big companies that we don’t want to keep replacing items, and that we want to reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfill.

This is an AMAZING figure and I am so happy to see it. Being able to use repair as a way to reject the norm of overconsuming is powerful in so many ways, but knowing the direct impact it is having on new purchases is such a win. Finding items for our wardrobes that we truly love and that fit us and our lifestyles can be so hard, so of course it makes sense to want to repair those items when the time comes. We’ve been sold this damaging idea of convenience over longevity for so long now; being told that it’s just easier for us to replace something rather than repair it, but it looks like that narrative is on its way out. Repairing our clothes is a powerful act not just in the message it sends to those big companies, but as a way to reclaim our time, value the skills we teach ourselves and as a way to make a personal mark on the clothing we love.

👖 …And if an item can’t be repaired, over 3 in 5 of our second hand clothing purchases have displaced the need to buy new ones!

The rise of resale websites like Vinted and Depop have been an eye opener into just how much clothing we all own. You can now search for a specific item by size, colour and brand so easily that buying second hand is becoming easier than ever.

Of course there’s an argument for swapping one form of overconsumption for another, and it can be all too easy to continue buying too much with the attitude that it’s second hand so it’s guilt free. It’s a tricky one, and I think it's something that we can only discover for ourselves on a personal level. I’ve definitely found myself falling into that trap of buying something that I didn’t really need and justifying it because it was second hand. And whilst I’ve been able to continue that resale cycle if items didn’t work in my wardrobe, I think it’s important to look at why we still feel the need to keep spending and what those purchases are contributing to our wardrobes, happiness and spending mindset. Next time you’re on a resale site, search your favourite brand and take a look at how many items come up; it’s honestly eye watering how much clothing already exists out there before we even begin to contemplate how much is being produced new every single day. Buying second hand is such a good way to use your money in a way that rejects the push of constant newness coming at us from all angles.

🧵 By mending a cotton t-shirt instead of replacing it, you could help to save over 7.5kg in CO2e. That would be equivalent to ironing for over 25 hours.

The days of being told that repair isn't an important part of a garment's life cycle are gone. I hope this will also lead to a change in the way that repair is perceived in our society; as a skilled and valuable craft that deserves to be invested in and as a powerful environmental and political act.

I’ve talked so much about the attitudes that still persist about repair being seen as a negative thing (either thought of as menial women’s work or showing a lack of wealth) and I hope that these statistics help to disprove these narratives. Repair is crucial for the future of sustainability - and not just in clothing but across the board of electronics, homeware, furniture etc. Repair is a highly skilled and creative career path and I cannot wait to see these kinds of jobs grow and flourish as we realise their importance in our society. Visible mending is just one avenue of clothing repair and the basic sewing skills needed to keep clothing going need to be prioritised both in the workplace and in younger education as well. Repair is not just a trend, it’s essential, and I hope it’s here to stay in a way that truly shows how special it is.

Thanks to WRAP as always for such an informative study, and big love to all the companies that have helped them to bring these statistics together: The Seam, SoJo, Finisterre, eBay, Depop and Vestiaire Collective.

📊 All statistics found via www.WRAP.ngo in their February 2025 report 'Displacement Rates Untangled'.