By Amy Miller
As we go about our lives, we inevitably break things. We rip clothing, lose buttons, and smash plates. If we decide to repair these things, we often work tirelessly to disguise our efforts: the thread must match the fabric, the glue must dry clear, and the object must look as good as new. Visible mending – clue’s in the name – refers to the act of repairing an item in a noticeable way and thereby drawing attention to its flaws. Today I delve into the origins, ethics, methods, and uses of this practice, particularly in relation to my conversation with Elysha, a keen and proud mender based in Ontario, Canada.
One of the oldest examples of visible mending comes in the form of kintsugi, an ancient Japanese art believed to have originated in the late 15th century. Literally meaning “golden joinery”, kintsugi is the practice of fixing broken pottery with a gilded lacquer to accentuate the cracks. Beyond this, the OED takes the word to mean “an aesthetic or world view characterized by embracing imperfection and treating healing as an essential part of human experience”. With this in mind, it is possible to consider and understand the introduction of kintsugi to a therapeutic environment. For example, in her master’s thesis Marieev Krista Princer highlights the value of such techniques in art therapy as a mechanism by which clients can begin to accept “life after destruction” (Dominican University of California). It is clear to me that this mode of reparation runs much deeper than aesthetics, does not exist separate from philosophy, and can help to nurture human wellbeing.
An example of kintsugi (Vaneetha Risner, 2022).
Beyond therapy and personal development, visible mending techniques and kintsugi values are relevant also to the ethics of sustainability and environmentalism. Of course, the decision to mend a damaged piece of clothing is not always made: approximately 350,000 tonnes of clothes are sent to landfill in the UK each year (Waste Managed, 2025), plenty of which I’m sure could be patched up and worn again. In this context, to repair a possession is to go against the grain – furthermore, to do so visibly is to rip up the rulebook. This being said, active support for the practice of restoration is nothing new: for example, throughout the Great Depression feed-sack dresses became popular, created out of necessity but also to display a certain kind of humility. Fashion is cyclical and contextual, meaning that as issues such as climate change and the cost-of-living crisis become more and more prevalent we are likely to see yet another rise in thriftiness.
One person dedicated to this cause at the present time is Elysha Schuhbauer, the main figure behind Worth Mending and its many crafty projects. I first came across their work on Instagram (@worthmending) and was fascinated by their colourful practices and events.
Below are some snippets of my conversation with Elysha:
Q: What first inspired you to begin working with visible mending techniques?
A: “I fell into visible mending at the crossroads of being a crafty, creative kid and a scrappy, rebellious teen. I grew up in a working-class family whose wardrobe was almost entirely second-hand; a lot of my “sustainable and eco-friendly” habits come from my mom’s thriftiness of necessity. […] I did have this sweet pair of capris that I customized with embroidery, patches, and mismatched buttons – but the DIY punk scenes I sought out got me hooked on visible mending as resistance.
DIY punks taught me that anywhere can be a music venue, that no one is free until we all are, and of course that dental floss makes great sewing thread, [but it] wasn’t until my late 20s that Instagram taught me the term “visible mending” and enabled the rabbit-hole I’m still exploring.”
Q: What principles or ethics inform your work?
A: “If the principles that guide my work are a bouquet, upcycling is the ribbon that ties them all together. Reusing second-hand and found items, rather than seeking out new purpose-made products, is key to my creative process. This practice pushes me to imagine possibilities and abundance where others see literal trash, with the goal in turn of inviting more people on this path towards more mindful consumption. It unites all of the values we prioritize for Worth Mending: creativity, environmentalism, longevity, mindfulness, resourcefulness, and DIY.
I want my work to take a principled stance inspiring people to buy less, repair more, embrace imperfection. I want to empower people to value community, creativity, and durability over the convenience, instant gratification, and perceived social status that has led us into this horrific storm of overconsumption. I want everyone to know the practical, meditative, rebellious joy that comes from mending: you can fight climate change, reckless consumption, and fast fashion with just a needle and thread!”
Q: What has been your favourite project so far?
A: “I’ve mended a lot of lovely things, but my favourite project so far is the Swift Mending Migration. July 2025 marks two years of shipping a handful of our Darning and Weaving Bundles all around the world in reusable mailers. It’s open for anyone who wants to participate and host a travelling loom, regardless of whether you post publicly on social media or anything like that. Every kit has a “passport” for hosts to journal their visit, and I encourage each person to photograph the loom in a favourite local spot to mark its physical voyage. Hosts send in photos and a written reflection that I publish on the Mending Migration blog.
We created a really cool thing with our Swift Darning Loom, both the product and the values I hope it represents. It’s so special that we get to witness our work – little bits of us, really – not just travel far and wide, but inspire people to creatively resist capitalism and all its extractive ills at such a personal, everyday level.”
The Swift Darning Loom (@worthmending, 2023).
Q: What advice would you give to people starting out with the craft?
A: “Thread that needle and get started! Visible mending celebrates wear, imperfection and progress. Your first repairs probably won’t be your favourite, but they will set you off on a long, rewarding road full of creative problem-solving and custom details. If the choice is between trying, or never wearing something again anyway, you have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Unlike “standard” invisible mending, visible mending magically takes the pressure off by letting you experiment and be proud of your effort, even (and especially!) if the result is not perfectly invisible.
- Mending is powerful: you’ll deepen your relationship with your clothes, you’ll create a custom, beloved wardrobe. You’ll buy less, and build critical thinking skills into all your future purchases. You’ll spend way less time on screens, and more time looking for your next garment to fix!
- Start easy: learn to secure a button or re-stitch a seam as soon as you notice it’s loose. Ask around for advice, and if you don’t know anyone who can teach you, learn together through YouTube tutorials!
- Watch for wear: common places to fix are elbows, knees, armpits, crotches, and of course the bottom of your socks. It’s a lot easier to repair thin fabric or a small hole than a blowout.
- Pay attention to patterns: does your belt buckle make the same hole in all your shirts, your phone wear out all your back-right pockets, your thighs consistently bust through your jeans? You can reinforce areas you know will wear out before they become a big problem.
- [Finally,] in the spirit of getting active in your community and logging off those screens, I highly recommend browsing your library for books on mending. You might also be surprised to learn about mending workshops or repair cafes hosted at your local library, or through other community groups nearby.”
It is clear from Elysha’s answers that their love for visible mending runs deep: environmental, community and socialist values pervade their creative work. This, alongside the importance of the practice on a “personal, everyday level”, shows that it has its place in both the individual and political arenas. For me, this conversation and its conclusion was distinctly reminiscent of kintsugi principles and the acceptance of imperfection, or even the outright rejection of perfection, in general life. Proudly embracing wear-and-tear is clearly a key value of all visible menders, whether working with modern techniques or continuing an ancient tradition, and this bleeds into all aspects of life, allowing us to grow as people through an appreciation of longevity. So, whether your goal is to save money, help the environment, or resist the constant call for overconsumption, I encourage you to take on a visible mending project next time you notice a rip in the seam of your favourite trousers. Don’t be shy; check out Elysha’s socials or research your local community of menders for advice!
Surround Sound 