The Resurgence of Make Do and Mend
Once upon a time, “make do and mend” was less a lifestyle choice and more a necessity. Fast forward to today, and it’s making a joyful comeback — not out of rationing, but out of creativity, sustainability, and a pinch of thriftiness. At the heart of this revival is darning, especially visible darning, where repairs aren’t hidden but celebrated. Think colourful patches, contrasting thread, and proudly stitched stories woven right into your wardrobe.
Darning used to be about invisibility: quietly fixing socks or jumpers so they’d last another winter. Now, visible mending flips that idea on its head. Instead of disguising wear and tear, it highlights it. A bright woven patch over a frayed elbow or a neon stitch across a worn knee turns damage into design. It’s not just repair — it’s reinvention. Clothes gain character, and each stitch adds a bit of personality you simply can’t buy off the rack.
Part of the charm is giving garments a new life. Maybe it’s a beloved cardigan that’s seen better days or a vintage find that needs a little love. Visible darning transforms these items into one-of-a-kind pieces. It also pairs beautifully with the rise of second-hand fashion. Charity shops, car boot sales, and online resale platforms are treasure troves if you’re willing to look past the odd hole or worn seam. With a needle and thread, those “flaws” become opportunities.
So, why is this trend having a moment again? In a word: economics. With rising living costs and recession worries lingering, people are rethinking how they spend. Repairing what you already own (or buying pre-loved and fixing it up) is far cheaper than replacing everything. But it’s not just about saving money. There’s also a growing awareness of fashion’s environmental impact. Mending extends the life of clothing, reducing waste and slowing down fast fashion habits. It’s frugal and feel-good.
Jessica Smulders-Cohen is the in-house mending expert at TOAST and responsible for repairing items brought in by customers. A weaver at heart, she’s also a sustainability advocate, researcher, maker and designer who is passionate about sharing the knowledge she’s acquired over the years. “Traditionally, these skills would have been taught and passed down from one generation to the next.
The tools for getting started are refreshingly simple. A basic sewing kit will take you far: needles, embroidery thread or wool, small scissors, and a darning mushroom or even a lightbulb to hold fabric taut. Many people enjoy upgrading to colourful threads or speciality yarns for bold effects. Fabric scraps are handy for patching, and embroidery hoops can help keep everything steady. The barrier to entry is low — and that’s part of the appeal.
Even celebrities are getting in on the mending mindset. While not everyone is visibly darning their jumpers on Instagram, plenty of high-profile names are embracing the spirit behind it. Stars like Emma Watson and Cate Blanchett are known for re-wearing and reworking outfits, proving clothes can have multiple lives even on the red carpet. Meanwhile, Billie Eilish has championed upcycled and eco-conscious fashion, helping make sustainability feel cool rather than preachy. Even Joaquin Phoenix made headlines for wearing the same tuxedo all awards season, quietly reinforcing the wear it again ethos. Together, these figures have helped shift perceptions, making repaired, re-loved clothing feel stylish and intentional rather than second-best.
Fashion icon, model and step daughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, Ella Emhoff is very much into craft, upcycling and making things herself. Her Instagram page is filled with inspirational projects including customisation and making more affordable alternatives to high end fashion looks.
If you’re curious to try it yourself, learning is easier than ever. Social media is bursting with short tutorials, from basic woven darning to intricate sashiko-inspired designs. YouTube offers step-by-step guides for every skill level, and many local craft shops or community centres run repair workshops. Even libraries are getting in on the act with “repair cafés” where you can learn alongside others. It’s a hobby that rewards patience but doesn’t demand perfection — wonky stitches are part of the charm.
And the ethos doesn’t stop at clothes. The same mindset applies to other well-loved items around the home. Think reupholstering a tired chair with contrasting fabric, patching a worn cushion, or creatively repairing chipped wooden furniture. Visible fixes — like bold stitching on a fabric lampshade or decorative brackets on a cracked table leg — turn repairs into talking points. Instead of hiding wear, you’re honouring an item’s history.
The sofa repair was carried out using an XL darning technique by the fibre artist Sarah Neubert, whose approach to visible mending transforms damage into a deliberate and expressive feature rather than something to conceal. Inspired by the woven upholstery mending tutorial published by TA-DAAN, the process involved carefully warping and weaving sturdy yarn across the worn upholstery to stabilise the fabric while adding a striking, textural patch. As demonstrated in the original guide, this method not only reinforces weakened areas but also extends the life of beloved furniture by embracing repair as part of its story, turning scratches and tears into a thoughtful, handcrafted design element rather than a flaw. (TA-DAAN Shop)
Ultimately, visible darning is about more than thread and fabric. It’s about slowing down, valuing what we own, and rediscovering the satisfaction of making something with our hands. In a world obsessed with newness, there’s something quietly radical about choosing to repair instead.
Summary
Visible darning brings new energy to the old “make do and mend” philosophy. By turning repairs into creative features, people are saving money, reducing waste, and personalising their wardrobes. With simple tools and endless online tutorials, anyone can learn. From clothes to furniture, mending is becoming a stylish, sustainable statement.
Discover the resurgence of make do and mend through visible darning. Learn how creative clothing repairs save money, reduce waste, and personalise your wardrobe. From tools and tutorials to celebrity inspiration, explore why this sustainable trend is back — and how to start mending clothes and home items yourself.
