10 Times People Mended Their Ruined Things Very Visibly And Only Made Them Cooler

Just because something gets broken, torn, or old doesn't mean we need to throw it away. 92 million tonnes of textile waste ends up in landfills in the U.S. every year as it is. But there are ways to prolong the life of an item of clothing. One of them is mending, and it can be quite an art form, too.

People in this Reddit community know that. They're into what's called 'visible mending,' the art of repairing clothes, furniture, textiles, and in some cases even cars by displaying their flaws instead of hiding them. So, scroll through this list of stunning mending projects and perhaps it'll inspire you to prolong your garment's life too!

To know more about the benefits and joys of visible mending, Bored Panda reached out to fiber artist and author of Mending Matters and Make Thrift Mend Katrina Rodabaugh. She kindly agreed to tell us why mending clothes instead of throwing them away can be so joyous and shared some practical tips for aspiring menders. Read her insights below!

10 PHOTOS

#1 Third Attempt At Darning!

#2 Embroidered Couch Repair!

#3 Short Had Holes. Made Some Fish About It

When I was little, my grandma used to darn the socks for our entire family. Granted, she was the one who knit them in the first place, but she was also the one who would repair them when there would be nothing but big holes left in the heels. Back when she was growing up, there was no such thing as fast fashion. Even suggesting to throw the socks out would've seemed incredibly wasteful.

Luckily, it seems that mending is coming back in style. Patrick Grant, the host of The Great British Sewing Bee, told The Guardian that people are getting tired of the fast fashion industry and looking for alternatives. "I think this trend has been growing for several years now and I think it's largely been driven by our desire to consume less and throw less away for environmental reasons."

#4 Fixed A Small Hole In The Sleeve Of My Boyfriend’s Jacket. Do I Tell Him Or Let Him Find It?

#5 Happy With How This Came Out, Dandelion Seed Head Over Some Small Tears In A Shirt

#6 I Covered Up A Wine Stain On My Favorite Dress With A Cross Stitch Flower (X-Post From /R/Crossstitch)

The wish to be more eco-friendly is one of the reasons artist and author Katrina Rodabaugh turned to mend as well. "I love so many things about mending clothes!" she tells Bored Panda. "Mostly, it repairs the textile and puts it back into rotation and prolongs its usefulness. It's better for the environment if I'm able to wear my clothes for as long as possible and reduce waste."

However, there's the crafting aspect as well. "I also love that it allows for experimentation with simple design elements like color, line, and scale," Katrina says. "I love that it's calming, centering, and quiet. And I love that it lets me practice basic stitching and patching—a micro session of crafting in a full day."

#7 First Visible Mend!

#8 My Boyfriend’s Mom Had A Medical Emergency And The Emts Cut Her Favorite Jacket. I Mended It For Her Christmas Present

#9 Advice Please! A Great Idea Or Horrendous?!

When you're a beginner at mending and have never done a stitch in your life, it can be hard to navigate the world of crafts. Especially if you're trying to be more sustainable and friendly to the environment; knowing what tools and materials to choose for mending matters. You wouldn't want to go for a polyester or nylon thread when your goal is to reduce the use of synthetic fibers.

#10 Patched A Hole In The Crotch Of My Jeans