From workshops to the catwalk - why mended clothes are going mainstream

Visible mending—decorative repair using stitching, patching, and traditional techniques like Japanese Boro and Sashiko—has grown from hobby crafters and community workshops over the past six years to reach designer catwalks and major retailers from Ralph Lauren to Shein, marking a cultural shift away from throwaway fast fashion toward celebrating clothing care.

Some major retailers sell new factory-made 'mended' garments rather than authentic repairs; the trend's environmental impact depends on whether it shifts consumer behavior toward keeping clothes longer.