Darned denim: Mending makes a comeback

Darn and Dusted founder Luke Deverell, who also works at Japanese denim specialist Edwin, takes an artisanal approach to mending. It is not simply about placing a patch where a hole once was, it is about reviving jeans with interesting stitching and choice of colour to personalise them for each customer.

‘Craft work and things being done by hand has come around again, which is encouraging people to do things themselves or look for things done by hand,’ Deverell tells LS:N Global. ‘Some 90% of my customers come in because they have a hole, but at least 10% come in with a new pair of jeans and will ask me to cut holes in them and make my mark.’

This might seem an odd request, but it is perfectly in line with the quest for authenticity and individuality in a globalised world. Indeed, more people are searching for hand-made touches to add an individualistic flair to what they own. 

For more on the rise in denim repair, read our Tasteful Waste microtrend.