Selvedge Issue 102: Mend

"Darning is having a moment. We are surrounded by books about darning, workshops even high street brands are getting in on the act. I wonder why we value darning so highly? Go back 200 years and everybody darned. Back then, clothes were valued: for the fabric itself; precious, expensive and replaced rarely.  Wear was a source of embarrassment and even shame...

Now the majority of the clothes we wear have little financial or emotional value, yet our conscience drives us to increase their longevity and reduce their environmental impact. The incentive today is to use darning as a political statement, you can't do this if the darning is invisible. We talk to contemporary darners about why they darn and look at other methods for extending the life of clothes. Catching the eye is also the speciality of Mexican fashion designer and Instagram sensation Melania Chavarría. Collecting, altering and designing garments, she crafts striking tableaux vivants where her outfits tune in to Mexico City’s street art, producing images that brim with a bold presence and bracing, vibrant energy."

Abridged from Polly Leonard, Founder & Editor of Selvedge Magazine