If you’re going to repair something – make it obvious!

The “visible mending” movement is being driven by individuals concerned about the environmental impact of new clothing. But its roots go back centuries to the Japanese tradition of sashiko.

The ‘visible mending’ trend of fixing clothes can be traced to a Japanese tradition : NPR

As the Sidmouth Repair Café has it – with a caption to the photo:

This visible mending project on an old pair of jeans is based on the ancient Japanese method of ‘sashiko’ visible mending.

Sidmouth Repair Cafe | Facebook

Rather than throwing away clothes that have holes, rips, or worn elbows, visible menders repair them without trying to hide the damage. Fifty moth holes become a constellation of colored dots across a sweater; sleeves that have unraveled are reknitted in a contrasting color. It almost looks like kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with seams of brilliant gold.

Visible mending of clothes makes art out of something that once may have been embarrassing

Instead of hiding rips and tears, the visible mending movement turns them into art. Born from the Japanese art of sashiko, visible mending enables crafters to eschew fast fashion and make mistakes beautiful.

Sashiko: What visible mending means to crafters – Vox

Here’s a video from down under:

Visible mending brings new life to old damaged clothes 🧵✂️ | Everyday | ABC Australia – YouTube