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Mend!: A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto
A hands-on manual and a history and celebration of clothes tending--and its remarkable resurgence as art form, political statement, and path to healing the planet.
“For Fans of NBC’s Making It , Bravo’s Project Runway , or shopping vintage: A sweater gets a hole? Sew it closed... Part history and part how-to, Mend! traces the task’s evolution from a 1950s chore to a DIY sustainability movement.” — Marie Claire
For thousands of years, mending was a deep craft that has for too long been a secret history. But now it's back, bigger and better than ever. In this book Kate Sekules introduces the art of visible mending as part of an important movement to give fashion back its soul. Part manifesto, part how-to, MEND! calls for bold new ways of keeping clothes and refreshing your style. Crammed with tips, fun facts, ravishing photography, and illustrated tutorials, MEND! tells you exactly how to rescue and renew your wardrobe with flair and aplomb--and save money along the way.
Whether you've never owned a needle or are an aspiring professional, MEND! gives you clear instruction and witty advice, with over thirty techniques, from classic darning and patching to cheeky new methods invented by Sekules, to help you turn every garment into a unique fashion statement. Including interviews with menders, shameful fashion industry facts, a ten-step closet mend, cheat sheets, stitch guides, moth elimination, museum conservator and vintage dealer tricks, and more, this is a book to inspire, delight, and galvanize. Sharp, funny, and incredibly timely, MEND! leads the slow fashion revolution into its next phase, where getting dressed is a joyful, creative experience for all.
“For Fans of NBC’s Making It , Bravo’s Project Runway , or shopping vintage: A sweater gets a hole? Sew it closed... Part history and part how-to, Mend! traces the task’s evolution from a 1950s chore to a DIY sustainability movement.” — Marie Claire
For thousands of years, mending was a deep craft that has for too long been a secret history. But now it's back, bigger and better than ever. In this book Kate Sekules introduces the art of visible mending as part of an important movement to give fashion back its soul. Part manifesto, part how-to, MEND! calls for bold new ways of keeping clothes and refreshing your style. Crammed with tips, fun facts, ravishing photography, and illustrated tutorials, MEND! tells you exactly how to rescue and renew your wardrobe with flair and aplomb--and save money along the way.
Whether you've never owned a needle or are an aspiring professional, MEND! gives you clear instruction and witty advice, with over thirty techniques, from classic darning and patching to cheeky new methods invented by Sekules, to help you turn every garment into a unique fashion statement. Including interviews with menders, shameful fashion industry facts, a ten-step closet mend, cheat sheets, stitch guides, moth elimination, museum conservator and vintage dealer tricks, and more, this is a book to inspire, delight, and galvanize. Sharp, funny, and incredibly timely, MEND! leads the slow fashion revolution into its next phase, where getting dressed is a joyful, creative experience for all.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2020
49 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 4, 2021
3 stars for readability
4 stars for cool manual with interesting historical info and photos
I went back and forth on how much I liked this. The first couple chapters were a little hard to get through. Pretty thick on the history and I didn’t love the tone, a little preachy. As the the book went on, I enjoyed it more. Good resource for learning about mending and getting ideas for projects, but not my favorite overall.
4 stars for cool manual with interesting historical info and photos
I went back and forth on how much I liked this. The first couple chapters were a little hard to get through. Pretty thick on the history and I didn’t love the tone, a little preachy. As the the book went on, I enjoyed it more. Good resource for learning about mending and getting ideas for projects, but not my favorite overall.
October 7, 2020
Fun book that’s a “jack of all trades, and a master of none.” Enough information is shared on a variety of sewing and textile topics that you can go and follow up on your own, if interested. The historical information was the most interesting to me.
The tables and uses for the various stitches are helpful, even to an experienced sewer. However—if you’re learning new stitches, especially as a new sewer, this isn’t the book that’s going to help you easily accomplish that. I’d search out a resource on YouTube or find a dedicated stitch guide that you like the style of. You might be better off creating your own sampler of “mending/decorative” stitches for use later on.
Still, her voice is enthusiastic and makes you want to find those old t-shirts with the random oil stains and give them all makeovers! It’s really inspiring and I just wish it had a lot more photos and illustrations!
The author did well in bring together a large group of related topics.
The tables and uses for the various stitches are helpful, even to an experienced sewer. However—if you’re learning new stitches, especially as a new sewer, this isn’t the book that’s going to help you easily accomplish that. I’d search out a resource on YouTube or find a dedicated stitch guide that you like the style of. You might be better off creating your own sampler of “mending/decorative” stitches for use later on.
Still, her voice is enthusiastic and makes you want to find those old t-shirts with the random oil stains and give them all makeovers! It’s really inspiring and I just wish it had a lot more photos and illustrations!
The author did well in bring together a large group of related topics.
November 14, 2020
There are a few small ways in which Kate Sekules and I see things differently (mostly I don't agree with filling your closet to chock full because it's inevitable like she says it is, and a couple of other li'l things), I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a combination of interesting history of fabrics, clothes, and mending, great instructional tidbits, and wisdom about why mending is not only cool and creative, but necessary and environmentally healthy, all with fun word play and humor sprinkled in. I listen to the audiobook read by the author, which is a treat, as she's very good. I'm mostly not buying books right now, but this will be an exception, as the visuals and instruction will be very helpful for a mostly-sorta-beginner like me. Highly recommend.
December 3, 2020
I got this book from the library on an impulse, and loved it. It is a realm of its own that I had no idea it existed. And this book is a great introduction into it - from history of mending, into inspiration, and how-tos for beginners, it can get you really into all the possibilities of taking care of your clothing in this level.
I agree with Sekules that we are trained to simply buy cheap and discard often, only to buy again. This behavior is pushing us into multiple ever growing environmental issues. Maybe mending your socks won't save the world. But if millions of us did, maybe it would.
I agree with Sekules that we are trained to simply buy cheap and discard often, only to buy again. This behavior is pushing us into multiple ever growing environmental issues. Maybe mending your socks won't save the world. But if millions of us did, maybe it would.
February 8, 2021
Such an interesting history of cloth-its value and the care taken for it to retain its use and value.
I am now encouraged to mend the hole in the left knee of my fave jeans and resurrect them from the very bottom of my dresser! Not sure a woman of 60+ years can pull off the independent vibe of mended wear, but age be damned!
I am now encouraged to mend the hole in the left knee of my fave jeans and resurrect them from the very bottom of my dresser! Not sure a woman of 60+ years can pull off the independent vibe of mended wear, but age be damned!
March 5, 2025
outstanding resource for inspiration + education! it really is a manifesto & i loved every page.
mend, tend, lend.
mend, tend, lend.
January 28, 2021
Interesting history, and numerous ideas and techniques for visible mending. Heavy on re-using clothing and caring for it well for sustainability reasons. Sekules' personal style tends to the colorful and loud, but even beginners can make adjustments and choose ideas & materials to suit their own style. One of the most useful aspects of this book is the wealth of information on the properties and best uses of each type of fabric, thread/yarn, and mending technique. Sekules has some of the most detailed and helpful drawings and descriptions of embroidery, darning, and other stitching that I've seen--the main reason I might buy my own copy of this instead of checking it out regularly from the library.
August 28, 2021
Prior to this, I had read and enjoyed two previous books on the topic of visible mending. I'm not a very crafty person, but I've always done VM and now that it has become popular I am of course drawn to books about it. So, I like VM and have read a few books about VM, but I have to say this is my favorite one so far because the author's voice is so refreshing and honest. There is a wealth of information about the sociopolitical history/context of textiles to go along with the specific mending techniques, which are helpfully illustrated and cleverly named.
October 3, 2020
An interesting look into the history of mending with practical how to guides.
It could have done with more information on where fabric in the past came from, especially cotton coming from plantations.
It could have done with more information on where fabric in the past came from, especially cotton coming from plantations.
July 9, 2023
Fun facts at the front and then practical how-tos with examples at the back.
March 11, 2021
I've been through a lot of mending books lately, and this is an excellent one, but not entirely perfect for what I was looking for.
The Pros!
-different types of fabric and how to mend them
-clothing damage/stains and what type of mend works best, etc.
-It even goes over why you don't need to wash your clothes constantly, and how to de-stink them in between washes. (Another money saver!)
Cons:
-It doesn't cover a lot in terms of knit or crochet repairs, but the website referenced for rescuing and repairing thrifted or old knitwear is a really excellent source.
-There could be more illustrations and descriptors for the different stitch techniques- and yes, I know one can look that up online, even with a video, but sometimes you may need a hard copy visual reference in front of you (you never know) and a book on how to mend should have, you know, a visual guide on how to mend.
-Nothing on how to mend more heavy-duty or specialty items, like gloves, down jackets, etc.
-There's a lot of background information in here, and I do mean a LOT: the history of fabric, clothing, and mending, lots of tables and charts about clothing styles and designers through the decades, and what to look for when sourcing vintage. It's great, especially if you want to read all that and you're interested, but if you already know it or just really need the resources to get to mending, it's rather too much and feels superfluous.
Still an excellent reference and worth browsing through to see if it's a good fit for you.
The Pros!
-different types of fabric and how to mend them
-clothing damage/stains and what type of mend works best, etc.
-It even goes over why you don't need to wash your clothes constantly, and how to de-stink them in between washes. (Another money saver!)
Cons:
-It doesn't cover a lot in terms of knit or crochet repairs, but the website referenced for rescuing and repairing thrifted or old knitwear is a really excellent source.
-There could be more illustrations and descriptors for the different stitch techniques- and yes, I know one can look that up online, even with a video, but sometimes you may need a hard copy visual reference in front of you (you never know) and a book on how to mend should have, you know, a visual guide on how to mend.
-Nothing on how to mend more heavy-duty or specialty items, like gloves, down jackets, etc.
-There's a lot of background information in here, and I do mean a LOT: the history of fabric, clothing, and mending, lots of tables and charts about clothing styles and designers through the decades, and what to look for when sourcing vintage. It's great, especially if you want to read all that and you're interested, but if you already know it or just really need the resources to get to mending, it's rather too much and feels superfluous.
Still an excellent reference and worth browsing through to see if it's a good fit for you.
December 9, 2021
I think I’m going to get a lot of use out of this book. I read a library copy, but I’m definitely going to need my own.
The history of textiles was interesting, as was the political/environmental manifesto (one can hardly say one “liked” the discussion of people being forced to enter a building on the edge of collapse). I already knew a bit about this, because I'm a knitting dork, but it was useful to see it pulled together like this. I did like the reminder about the importance of textiles, historically—often being the first items listed in people’s wills, for example. (I also liked the shout-out in the materials section of stash; being told, as a knitter or crocheter, "well done you!")
But for me, the specifics of mending—both the how-tos, and the sheer inspiration of the photos—are the important part. I’ve done mending work for years now, on knitwear; I worked in a yarn shop for a few years, and I was the repair person. But I did traditional work, trying to keep the mends as invisible, or at least inconspicuous, as possible. I’d heard about the whole visible mending movement, but the examples I’d seen had been either cartoonish and garish (the ones I figured I could do), or stunning, couture-level embroidery (ones I couldn’t do in a million years).
Sekules has given me an entrée, as it were, to this new world. There was a photo of a white fabric (I think she said it was a pair of trousers she’d gotten paint on), and a small field of abstract embroidery on it that made me think, for the first time, “I could do that—and I’d be willing to wear the result out in public.”
And there was more. Okay, I can’t draw/embroider a perfectly shaded and lifelike bird, but I can stitch little bits of color, and I can arrange them well on fabric. I can do a buttonhole stitch around moth holes. I can do French knots.
I can do this.
Sekules also gave me another gift, unwittingly, when she mentioned Elizabeth Cline's work, and how she and Cline have become friends in real life thanks to their shared interest in clothing. In my perfect world, all my friends would be friends with each other, so to see that two writers I respect have formed a bond just made me totally happy!
I was particularly pleased, because after reading Cline’s first book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, I really wanted to take her to lunch and out shopping, but now she’s found someone who’s a much better and more knowledgeable choice! I love the idea of Sekules and Cline out together, hunting through London’s vintage markets….
The history of textiles was interesting, as was the political/environmental manifesto (one can hardly say one “liked” the discussion of people being forced to enter a building on the edge of collapse). I already knew a bit about this, because I'm a knitting dork, but it was useful to see it pulled together like this. I did like the reminder about the importance of textiles, historically—often being the first items listed in people’s wills, for example. (I also liked the shout-out in the materials section of stash; being told, as a knitter or crocheter, "well done you!")
But for me, the specifics of mending—both the how-tos, and the sheer inspiration of the photos—are the important part. I’ve done mending work for years now, on knitwear; I worked in a yarn shop for a few years, and I was the repair person. But I did traditional work, trying to keep the mends as invisible, or at least inconspicuous, as possible. I’d heard about the whole visible mending movement, but the examples I’d seen had been either cartoonish and garish (the ones I figured I could do), or stunning, couture-level embroidery (ones I couldn’t do in a million years).
Sekules has given me an entrée, as it were, to this new world. There was a photo of a white fabric (I think she said it was a pair of trousers she’d gotten paint on), and a small field of abstract embroidery on it that made me think, for the first time, “I could do that—and I’d be willing to wear the result out in public.”
And there was more. Okay, I can’t draw/embroider a perfectly shaded and lifelike bird, but I can stitch little bits of color, and I can arrange them well on fabric. I can do a buttonhole stitch around moth holes. I can do French knots.
I can do this.
Sekules also gave me another gift, unwittingly, when she mentioned Elizabeth Cline's work, and how she and Cline have become friends in real life thanks to their shared interest in clothing. In my perfect world, all my friends would be friends with each other, so to see that two writers I respect have formed a bond just made me totally happy!
I was particularly pleased, because after reading Cline’s first book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, I really wanted to take her to lunch and out shopping, but now she’s found someone who’s a much better and more knowledgeable choice! I love the idea of Sekules and Cline out together, hunting through London’s vintage markets….
September 23, 2021
I love this book! Creative patterns, great background on mending, and gorgeous project ideas. I would really like a copy of this for my bookshelf, if only to flip through for inspiration.
May 30, 2021
This book appealed to me greatly when I first saw it come up in my recommendations. I have loved wearing and refashioning old clothes since I was a teenager, and hate to see any fabric go to landfill. I have always tried to mend those clothes I have and to keep even the tiniest pieces of fabric because "they might be useful one day".
Firstly, I like that Sekules articulates, passionately, the need for tending and mending the clothes we have. Having read Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times and The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine, I really enjoyed the little history of fabric, with a particular focus on mending.
Secondly, I really like the description of techniques. It made me realise that most of the methods I use are "made-up" which is fine, but there are much better ways I can do things. The only technique I've been taught is darning, and I like Sekules' method much more than what my Mum taught me when I was little. Hers is flatter and apparently has a longer history!
I am not sure that I am a convert to "visible mending". I like my clothes to look neat, and while this may reflect some capitalist patriarchal structure in Sekules' eyes, I just like things to be tidy. I will be testing and using her methods on coat linings, pajamas and housework clothes, but am perhaps not brave enough to wear visible mends in my work life. Who knows, I may change my mind on this sometime.
While I am a preserver of clothes, I'm not a collector, and I prefer to own less "stuff", so the sections where she talked about having lots and lots of room for your clothing collection were not of interest to me. Of course, it's not "stuff" if it's your passion, and clothes are not my passion; I prefer to have fewer items, but to keep them for a long time.
It's an inspiring read. It made me pull out many things that needed mending and testing out some new methods to fix them. The suggestion to put a piece of cardboard behind the work was excellent!
Firstly, I like that Sekules articulates, passionately, the need for tending and mending the clothes we have. Having read Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times and The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine, I really enjoyed the little history of fabric, with a particular focus on mending.
Secondly, I really like the description of techniques. It made me realise that most of the methods I use are "made-up" which is fine, but there are much better ways I can do things. The only technique I've been taught is darning, and I like Sekules' method much more than what my Mum taught me when I was little. Hers is flatter and apparently has a longer history!
I am not sure that I am a convert to "visible mending". I like my clothes to look neat, and while this may reflect some capitalist patriarchal structure in Sekules' eyes, I just like things to be tidy. I will be testing and using her methods on coat linings, pajamas and housework clothes, but am perhaps not brave enough to wear visible mends in my work life. Who knows, I may change my mind on this sometime.
While I am a preserver of clothes, I'm not a collector, and I prefer to own less "stuff", so the sections where she talked about having lots and lots of room for your clothing collection were not of interest to me. Of course, it's not "stuff" if it's your passion, and clothes are not my passion; I prefer to have fewer items, but to keep them for a long time.
It's an inspiring read. It made me pull out many things that needed mending and testing out some new methods to fix them. The suggestion to put a piece of cardboard behind the work was excellent!
March 7, 2021
Things potential readers should know before getting into this book: it is a manifesto, so there's a lot of clothing politics going on here, by which I mean negative comments about the effects the garment industry and its related industries has on the environment and the human condition. That's kind of the point of a manifesto, don'tcha think? Another thing to know is there's less instruction than you're likely expecting, though the instruction bits are very helpful- extensive information on vintage clothing and fabrics, such as how to identify the era something was made in, how to decide what type of mend you want/need, materials to use, stitches that work well, and more- and there's way more history of clothing and mending than you thought you'd get, but oh my! it's all so interesting! The information on the fashion industry is eye-opening, and will inspire the reader to get into slow fashion. Read this book for the kick in the pants you need to stop being such a consumer and start mending!
#Mend #NetGalley
#Mend #NetGalley
September 22, 2021
Kay, so this was an interesting one.
I tend toward subtler mending (I am a perfectionist and also I value appearing professional for work), so the visible mending movement is less attractive to me aesthetically and - what is the words for ''values-wise'' - I am totally blanking right now. I might just feel less 'stick-it-to-the-Man' today because it is rainy and I have a headache.
I really appreciated the history of fabrics and clothing, though, as well as the notes on fabric care and the exposition of the thoughtshift necessary to be someone who mends clothes. Like Sekules says, fabric is EXPENSIVE, if not in money then in blood, sweat, and tears, and it behooves us to treat it like that. And while her tone was sometimes a lil extra, her cheerful certainty that perfection in mending is unnecessary, that you will enjoy yourself, and that you are doing a lil extra good in your life to yourself, the people who made your clothes, and the planet - it felt encouraging and comforting, and inspiring.
Thanks, Sekules :)
I tend toward subtler mending (I am a perfectionist and also I value appearing professional for work), so the visible mending movement is less attractive to me aesthetically and - what is the words for ''values-wise'' - I am totally blanking right now. I might just feel less 'stick-it-to-the-Man' today because it is rainy and I have a headache.
I really appreciated the history of fabrics and clothing, though, as well as the notes on fabric care and the exposition of the thoughtshift necessary to be someone who mends clothes. Like Sekules says, fabric is EXPENSIVE, if not in money then in blood, sweat, and tears, and it behooves us to treat it like that. And while her tone was sometimes a lil extra, her cheerful certainty that perfection in mending is unnecessary, that you will enjoy yourself, and that you are doing a lil extra good in your life to yourself, the people who made your clothes, and the planet - it felt encouraging and comforting, and inspiring.
Thanks, Sekules :)
November 12, 2021
Straight into my top ten mending books list. Political, polemical, at times very amusing, well written, inspiring, well researched, wide ranging, comprehensive...
Is this a 'how to mend' book? Not so much. There are far better books out there for the techniques; although the philosophy of get a needle and thread and get started is great. All the study of techniques in the world won't mend a single item, but practice will mend many. Which is one of the core reasons to read this book - the why you should of mending.
The pictures are good, although this is not my mending aesthetic (very visible, somewhat punk).
Shasiko / boro / kantha etc are all mentioned as inspiration but placed within some welcome historical / social / cultural contextualisation. And Kate Sekules knows the monster was not called Frankenstein... happy moments in the text.
Read it. All of it. Even the end notes.
Is this a 'how to mend' book? Not so much. There are far better books out there for the techniques; although the philosophy of get a needle and thread and get started is great. All the study of techniques in the world won't mend a single item, but practice will mend many. Which is one of the core reasons to read this book - the why you should of mending.
The pictures are good, although this is not my mending aesthetic (very visible, somewhat punk).
Shasiko / boro / kantha etc are all mentioned as inspiration but placed within some welcome historical / social / cultural contextualisation. And Kate Sekules knows the monster was not called Frankenstein... happy moments in the text.
Read it. All of it. Even the end notes.
October 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I liked the writer's style (writing and fashion) and it was chock-full of interesting tidbits of information. I also attended a Creative Mornings field trip that she did and enjoyed that, too.
So, why not 5 stars?
1. It's a little light on the actual mending techniques. The photos/illustrations could have been put to better effect in actually providing instruction.
2. The endnotes made me crazy. All that flipping back and forth. Some were just referencing source material (which I fully support, but don't want to go to the back of the book to read) and others were witty annotations. Would have much preferred these to be footnotes instead of endnotes.
Overall, I'm glad I bought the book instead of getting it from the library so that I can refer back to it as I mend things.
So, why not 5 stars?
1. It's a little light on the actual mending techniques. The photos/illustrations could have been put to better effect in actually providing instruction.
2. The endnotes made me crazy. All that flipping back and forth. Some were just referencing source material (which I fully support, but don't want to go to the back of the book to read) and others were witty annotations. Would have much preferred these to be footnotes instead of endnotes.
Overall, I'm glad I bought the book instead of getting it from the library so that I can refer back to it as I mend things.
March 31, 2023
I picked this up because I’ve become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the clothing industry and trying to make changes where I can, as well as just having a general love of textile, embroidery and visible mending. Good smattering of historical context for clothing, fashion and mending, along with more technical info about fabrics, dealing with moths, etc. It was a little light on the how-to if you’re not already part of the stitching world, but definitely good ideas for visible mending. Her whole tone was a little too “clever” and self aggrandizing for me, a lot of times taking credit for singlehanded starting one thing another and constantly having to remind everyone how punk rock she is, along with peppering in a healthy dose of white male bashing for good measure - it’s a little cringey. Still a good inspirational read though.
December 8, 2020
So many great nuggets in this book.
1. Historically, cloth was expensive and people took the time to repair. Now cloth is cheap, but time is costly. Many folks no longer mend.
2. The “cheapness” of clothing comes at a cost— exploited workers in foreign countries. Meanwhile large clothing conglomerates earn the equivalent of small countries’ GDPs.
3. Disrupt the cycle by learning to mend what you have.
4. Make mending joyful and creative.
5. Learn from other cultures’ mending practices (Japan, India, and other countries’ mending arts are featured).
6. Be joyful, make mistakes, have fun.
One thing I didn’t like was that in the modern #visiblemending section, author Sekules did not feature creators of color. I didn’t like this erasure.
1. Historically, cloth was expensive and people took the time to repair. Now cloth is cheap, but time is costly. Many folks no longer mend.
2. The “cheapness” of clothing comes at a cost— exploited workers in foreign countries. Meanwhile large clothing conglomerates earn the equivalent of small countries’ GDPs.
3. Disrupt the cycle by learning to mend what you have.
4. Make mending joyful and creative.
5. Learn from other cultures’ mending practices (Japan, India, and other countries’ mending arts are featured).
6. Be joyful, make mistakes, have fun.
One thing I didn’t like was that in the modern #visiblemending section, author Sekules did not feature creators of color. I didn’t like this erasure.
October 2, 2021
When I’m not reading to relax, I’m mending. It’s a hobby turned into a need for my wellbeing, in the form of mendfulness. I mend along with the author on Instagram so I admit I was inclined to like this book even before I read it, but really, it’s a great book.
@visiblemend aka Kate Sekules has written this awesome book, where she writes about the what, why, where, when and more of mending.
We get the history of mending along with the instructions on how to mend. A manual and a manifesto. An important message to all of us who wear clothes and care about both the planet and other people’s wellfare.
@visiblemend aka Kate Sekules has written this awesome book, where she writes about the what, why, where, when and more of mending.
We get the history of mending along with the instructions on how to mend. A manual and a manifesto. An important message to all of us who wear clothes and care about both the planet and other people’s wellfare.
August 11, 2025
Mend! is an amazing how-to guide to mending clothing (instead of throwing them away or donating them to a major thrift store where it’s likely to be thrown away). A few weeks ago, I upcycled clothing for the first time, and today (yes, today!) I visibly mended a top for the first time!
Sekules’ methods for mending are extremely approachable, and I appreciate the historical bits describing how, in the past, textiles and clothing were valuable and significant, and it’s only recently (like post-60s) that clothing has literally become trash.
I can’t recommend Mend! enough for anyone’s anarchic fashion needs; I probably need to acquire my own copy at some point :)
Sekules’ methods for mending are extremely approachable, and I appreciate the historical bits describing how, in the past, textiles and clothing were valuable and significant, and it’s only recently (like post-60s) that clothing has literally become trash.
I can’t recommend Mend! enough for anyone’s anarchic fashion needs; I probably need to acquire my own copy at some point :)
January 15, 2024
If you'd like a review of the history of clothing and cloth, this will fit the bill but if you're looking for clear how-to instructions, look elsewhere. They are the last section and definitely feel like a last-minute addition. The back-cover blurb describes the writing as :sharp, funny and incredibly timely" but sometimes I felt like I arrived late to the party. Perhaps it was the British perspective.
August 23, 2020
This book was expected to be instructional, but it was so much more than that! The history of mending, the informative lists and resources given for materials , tools, and suppliers was amazing. Highly recommend to anyone looking to change how they view their clothing resources and global outlook.
November 7, 2020
I looooooved the historical and current cultural sections. I wanted more details. I looooved the punk rock attitude of the overview of stitches. If you want a more precise how-to guide, you can spend some time on the internet. I do wish that there were labels under the photos. I couldn't always tell which photo went with which words.
I legit want to put it into all my friends' hands.
I legit want to put it into all my friends' hands.
December 28, 2020
From a short history of mending, to a manifesto, to manual, this book is all that it promises to be on the cover. It offers both witt, and a personal touch that reads like talking with a specialist, who is also a sewing friend. Kate Sekules, wrote a book that is jam packed with information, and has one of the clearest messages lately.
April 13, 2021
Inspiring and beautiful handmade mends and a short history of textiles. Until recently textiles were very expensive and were repaired and refashioned and worn for a long time. Now we have fast fashion polluting the planet and putting workers under harsh conditions.
When we mend and repair our clothes we cut down on consumption. I've done one mend and am looking forward to doing many more.
When we mend and repair our clothes we cut down on consumption. I've done one mend and am looking forward to doing many more.
August 10, 2021
I got this book because I hoped to repair a pair of ripped jeans and thought it would help me.
Ha ha ha! It didn't, but I got a great overview of how past cultures have gone about fixing their clothing. The photos and comments were great! This would have made a wonderful coffee table book if I didn't need to return it to the library.
Ha ha ha! It didn't, but I got a great overview of how past cultures have gone about fixing their clothing. The photos and comments were great! This would have made a wonderful coffee table book if I didn't need to return it to the library.
October 19, 2021
A good follow-up to Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, as Mend! is part historical and part how-to book. Inspired to find and fix all my clothes with holes!
December 15, 2021
Wide ranging review of extending life of clothing through care and repair (mostly visible repair that individualizes pieces and elevates them to art). Beautifully illustrated with photos of completed pieces, historical and modern repair materials, and profiles of repurposers. Author's humor further elevates this work.
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