A missing button. A torn lining. At some point, every garment reaches that moment of decision – toss, or repair? And the most common reason people default to replacing something, rather than fixing it, is that they don’t realize how much is actually fixable.
Here’s what professional garment repair can do for your clothes:
What Can Be Repaired on a Garment?
The range of repairs available at a skilled tailor shop goes well beyond what most people realize:
- Button replacement — Individual buttons, full sets, even sourcing similar hardware!
- Zipper replacement — One of the most common and most satisfying repairs; a broken zipper doesn’t mean a broken garment
- Seam repair — Popped seams, fraying edges, failing stitching at stress points
- Lining replacement — Full or partial; one of the best investments in an otherwise excellent piece
- Small tears and snags — Depending on location and fabric condition, usually repairable
- Reweaving (invisible mending) — For moth holes and small tears in quality fabric
Curious whether your specialty fabrics, like fur or leather, are alterable? See our post here!
How Much Does it Cost to Reline a Garment?
A full relining is not an inexpensive alteration. A wool or cashmere coat can run upwards of $500 in materials and labor. A longer coat – or one with specialty fabrics or finishings – can be even more depending on complexity. But consider what you’re getting: the garment is essentially being finished from the inside as a new piece, and a well-made coat that’s been relined correctly has another decade or more of life ahead of it.
Ask yourself this question: if this piece were in perfect condition and fit you perfectly, would you wear it regularly? If yes, fix it. If you’re already lukewarm about it, a repair is likely just postponing the inevitable.
What Makes Repairing Your Clothes More Sustainable?
Research from WRAP found that extending the active life of a garment by just nine months reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprints by roughly 20 to 30 percent each. The garment you repair doesn’t just feel better – it does measurably less damage than the one you replace it with.
At Alts, we’ll always give you an honest assessment of what a piece is worth repairing and what it isn’t.
