Hi, I’m Helen and I’ve been a textile artist for many years, but recently ‘Visible Mending’ has become an important part of my practice. I have always had a philosophy to care for things and make them last, something instilled in me from childhood.
Just two generations ago, mending our clothes and household textiles was the norm. Sewing skills were passed down mother to daughter as well as being taught at school, but such creative subjects are now too often, the casualty of government cuts.
With the advent of ‘Fast Fashion’ we seem to have lost our connection with textiles. We are constantly encouraged to ‘Shop Till You Drop’ and are bombarded with other messages of capitalism and consumerism.
Our ‘throwaway culture’ has reached crisis point. People are increasingly realising that THERE IS NO ‘AWAY’, with most of what we dispose of either ending up in landfill or being incinerated. This is simply not sustainable for the future of our planet. As a result, many of us are once again embracing the ‘Make Do and Mend’ mentality of the war years in a desire to live greener lives.
Our ‘throwaway culture’ has reached crisis point. People are increasingly realising that THERE IS NO ‘AWAY’, with most of what we dispose of either ending up in landfill or being incinerated.
Repair Cafes are popping up all over the country and where clothes are concerned ‘MENDING IS TRENDING!’ Techniques such as darning have grown massively in popularity. The mends are no longer only functional, but decorative; they become a feature of the garment, expressing the wearer’s individuality and personality.
You can read more about my journey in my About page, find about more about the reasons to repair your own clothes on my Why Mend? page and the different methods you could try on my Visible Mending Techniques page.
Whether you’re a stitching pro or have never picked up a needle and thread before, I hope you will join me on my Visible Mending Journey, breathe new life into your own clothes and lead a more sustainable life.
I think the Greek word ‘Meraki’ perfectly reflects my approach to visible mending…to do something with soul, creativity or love…to put something of yourself into your work
