Canta Point: Should you repair your clothes, or buy new ones?
Image by Andreea Pop on Unsplash.
Supplied by Baxter Richards (he/him)
Opinion
Canta Point is a column written by the University of Canterbury Debating Society showcasing different sides of an issue, and encouraging flexible thinking.
The society is open to members of all abilities. Visit the UC Debating Instagram @ucdebsoc for more information.
Pro-Repair:
The world is in a climate crisis, and we need to do everything we possibly can to slow the decline into a flaming hell-scape. Fast fashion is a major pollutant, and by doing a quick patch job, your garment might last another couple of years or so. By doing your part, can you help to subvert what seems to be the inevitable? Does anyone really want to wear a sterile, bog-standard, basic outfit? Why not introduce some flavour into the mix with custom patchwork or embroidered stitching covering up those pesky rips and holes in your most beloved clothes? Accessorising and function all in one.
When your friends see you, do you want them to think: “Wow, I bet they got that shirt from SHEIN.” Or “wow, did they use a patch from their childhood Winnie the Pooh bedsheets to cover that very revealing rip in their pants?” The social status is unmatched when you can flex something you have fixed yourself. Wow! Looking great and feeling great? What more could you ask for?
Pro-Buy:
But who wants to spend the laborious hours learning how to cut, stitch, iron, sew, embroider, just for a little split in your jeans to be fixed? Certainly not anyone who values their time! The convenience of just popping down the road to H&H or Kmart for the hottest new styles is freeing!
Is it even cheaper to fix your old clothes? Nah. Sewing machines cost tonnes of money, and fabric does not come cheaply either! Getting the right patch fabric for your garment might even cost more than a new one! So why waste the time and money? You should just throw out the old and get something new.
Sure, it's all well and good to express your individuality through repairs, but is it not much better to blend into the crowd and become one with the rest of the world? Putting yourself out there can be scary; there is a reason it’s so much more common to get new clothes than fix old ones. People can be harsh and judgmental; way better to join the collective than single yourself out. Truth is, if that favourite sweatshirt has split down the back, it has done its job; let them rest. If that shirt is riddled with mysterious holes, leave it be. Best start fresh.