On the Mend | Repairing It All

From zippers to Zen, Eleisha and Ali stitch together the art of repair—whether it’s patching up clothes, fixing broken appliances, or mending relationships. This episode is all about extending the life of what you love and finding joy in making things whole again.

Key Takeaways

• Fast Fashion Fallout: Every second, a truckload of clothing is either landfilled or burned. Mending clothes is a powerful way to combat waste.
• California’s Responsible Textile Act: New legislation requires brands to accept items for reuse and recycling, potentially setting a national precedent.
• Repairing Beyond Clothes: Whether it’s a coffee maker on the fritz or a beloved mug with a chipped handle, there are always ways to repair and renew.
• Right to Repair Movement: Advocating for consumer access to parts and information needed to fix household items, with new laws emerging across several states.
• Emotional Mending: Repairing relationships is just as important as fixing tangible items—mend and extend on all fronts!

Links

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• California Responsible Textile Act
• Repair.org for Right to Repair resources
• How to Find a Repair Cafe Near You
• EPA's Textile Waste Stats
• Learn about Eleisha’s refillery: mainlineshift.com
• Follow Ali’s upcycling adventures on social media: @tiny_waste

Join the Conversation
What’s your favorite repair project? Share your mending wins and repair tips with us by tagging @OneCanHopePodcast.