Fashion Revolution revives wartime thrift with ‘Mend in Public Day,’ encouraging global communities to repair and upcycle clothing as a protest against the environmental impact of fast fashion. The initiative highlights the shift toward sustainable creativity by luxury designers and independent brands alike.

In a contemporary revival of wartime resourcefulness, the non-profit social enterprise Fashion Revolution is launching “Mend in Public Day” this weekend, inviting participants worldwide to engage in free local community classes focused on mending and stitching clothing. This initiative draws inspiration from the British government’s 1942 Board of Trade “Make Do and Mend” campaign, which encouraged citizens during World War II to conserve resources by learning sewing skills and repurposing existing garments.

Fashion Revolution’s event, however, addresses a different challenge: the overconsumption and pollution caused by the modern fashion industry. As the second most polluting sector after oil and gas, fashion accounts for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions. The industry’s environmental impact includes the prevalence of microfibres from synthetic fabrics infiltrating food chains and large amounts of discarded clothing, exemplified by a widely shared 2023 satellite image depicting a massive pile of clothes in Chile’s Atacama Desert. A culture dominated by rapid trends and disposable fashion—where buying new items is often cheaper than repairing damaged ones—has exacerbated these problems. Even potential tariffs on fast-fashion companies like Shein and Temu are unlikely to significantly curb this trend because of their remarkably low prices.

Fashion Revolution characterizes their “Mend in Public Day” as a form of protest, stating, “In an age of throwaway fashion, repairing our clothes is a revolutionary act.” While the global fashion industry’s impact varies by region, the organization emphasizes the need for localized solutions and collective action. Beyond repairing, the initiative also promotes upcycling—the process of transforming existing or discarded materials into new, often unique, products.

Luxury designers such as Ahluwalia and Marine Serre exemplify this trend toward sustainable creativity. Ahluwalia’s spring/summer 2025 collection, featuring knitted tops made from deadstock fabrics and upcycled doilies, has garnered attention from celebrities like Doechii. Marine Serre repurposes old terry cloths and silk scarves into new dresses and jackets, demonstrating that upcycled fashion can be both innovative and stylish.

Smaller independent brands in the UK are also contributing to this movement. For example, World Secrets creates clogs from antique kilim rugs, Helen Kirkum reworks secondhand trainers into refreshed footwear, and Pikol Clothing crafts holiday shirts from vintage tablecloths. Spilt Milk is known for making diverse garments including fisherman vests and bishop-sleeved blouses using vintage textiles.

Responding to the increasing interest in repair and upcycling, the recently launched app Loom offers an interactive platform where users can upload photos of damaged or unused garments and connect with designers who provide services ranging from visible mending to dyeing and redesign.

In an era where fashion trends can be fleeting, the act of repairing or reinventing beloved clothing items emerges as a meaningful alternative to the rapid consumption and disposal cycle. The Guardian reports that events like “Mend in Public Day” exemplify a growing movement toward sustainability and mindful consumerism within the fashion industry.

Source: Noah Wire Services