Fast Fashion is Killing Cobblers and Seamstresses

Fast fashion promotes a constant consumption of new clothing. This clothing is poor quality and made in factories where people are working in dangerous conditions. And these clothes never last long...

Cobblers are craftsman who specialize in shoe repair. Many also repair handbags and other accessories. Seamstresses are textile experts who repair rips in old clothing, they also tailor garments so that they fit their owners better.

Consumers are investing less in their clothing so they don't bother getting something fixed when it breaks. When someone can buy a t-shirt for $2 and it rips, they will just buy another one rather than spending more money fixing the broken product. This has caused cobblers and seamstress's business to collapse.

I have seem shop after shop across NYC close their doors due to lack of business. This is a dying artform and needs our help to revive. I always bring my shoes to the cobbler when a heel breaks or the shoe itself rips. I am always amazed by the condition they give it back to me in. I'm convinced they can fix anything.

So when something breaks on you, instead of immediately going to buy another product, see if you can fix it yourself or bring it in to an expert. Focus on investing in garments you will wear forever this way, you create little to no waste.

Thank you for reading !

-AJ

9/30/24