The Joy of Visible Mending

There’s something quietly radical about stitching life back into the things we already own. Especially when it comes to kids’ clothes — the ones that collect mystery holes and stains like it’s your kid’s job. Enter: visible mending. Part repair, part creative rebellion against throwaway culture, visible mending is a way to turn those trousers you were going to toss into something beautiful.

What Is Visible Mending?

Visible mending is exactly what it sounds like: instead of hiding the repair, you celebrate it. You use colorful threads, contrasting fabrics, or decorative stitching to turn a tear or hole into a feature. 

This practice has roots in age-old traditions like sashiko and boro from Japan, or kantha from India. (My great grandmother from the Appalachian mountains in America was a master patchwork quilter.) Today, it’s also a form of quiet activism against the idea that damaged means disposable.

Why Bother?

When you take the time to repair instead of replace, you’re modeling care — for your belongings, for the planet, and for the people who made those garments. You’re teaching kids that things don’t lose value just because they’re imperfect. In a culture obsessed with “new,” that’s a powerful lesson.

It’s also deeply satisfying. There’s something grounding about the slow, deliberate rhythm of stitching. Mending can be meditative — a moment of calm with your hands busy and your mind quiet. I love that if I mess up it's not the end of the world. I take the stitch out and try again. 

How to Get Started

You don’t need a sewing machine or a background in fashion. A needle, some thread, and a willingness to experiment are enough. Start small: a little patch under a hole in a knee using a bright color of thread. An embroidered flower over a stain. 

Online tutorials abound. Search for “visible mending,” and you’ll fall down a rabbit hole of inspiration. If you prefer to learn hands-on, you’re in luck. We’re starting upcycling classes for kids (and parents) in Geneva in January! It will be a lot of fun and a great way to meet other people who are into creativity and sustainability.

The Bigger Picture

Visible mending is a small but powerful act of creative resistance against waste. Every time you repair a garment, you keep it out of the landfill, reduce demand for new textiles, and remind yourself (and your kids) that value doesn’t vanish with a tear. Instead, it can transform into something even more meaningful.

So next time your child comes home with a hole in their favourite jeans - rejoice! You’ve just been handed a tiny canvas for creativity, a chance to practice care, and a story worth stitching into the fabric of your family life.

Want to learn how? Join one of our new upcycling classes starting in January! We have one for kids 8-12 which includes a deep dive into upcycling and natural dyeing, and one parent-kid class for kids 6+ that you can do together with your creative little!