Can you tell us about the most exciting repair you’ve been involved with?
“Jackets are often an extension of the people who wear them and we've had lots of interesting people kindly let us work on their jackets. From stuntmen to well-known musicians, TV presenters and professional sportspeople, seeing their love for the humble waxed jacket is always exciting. We once fixed up an old leather flight jacket that the owner told us had seen service in the Battle of Britain, so I guess it doesn't get more significant than that.”
How long can a waxed jacket last?
“They can and do last a lifetime. We see the proof daily as heirlooms land in our workshop to be reproofed, passed down from generation to generation. Waxed cotton is pretty robust so with regular care it will last for several lifetimes.”
What's the oldest jacket you've repaired?
“The jackets that immediately jump to mind are two 1950's Belstaff jackets that were recovered from an old shed. We decided to fix one up and leave the other for posterity. Once we'd stitched up the odd rip, cleaned and reproofed, it was genuinely as good as new. Both were later sold to the same collector.”
Do you plan to do other kinds of repairs in the future?
“Currently, the volume of repairs and our resources mean we specialise and focus only on waxed cotton. Our style of repairs is 'showing your workings' —inspired by the Japanese 'wabi-sabi' influence — adds another signature to the service we offer. We do see a future where repairing becomes more mainstream, though, and building out from wax to provide more services is undoubtedly on our list for the future.”
How far has repairing popularity come since you started?
“We may be biased as we're surrounded by a community of like-minded businesses, of which there are many, but I do feel the cost of living pinch combined with a change of consumer habits has encouraged more people to think about repairing what they have. We're seeing a sea change in younger people as they turn to second hand sites over fast fashion on the high street. They want their money to stretch further and I am seeing a big shift in the conscience of shoppers. My 14 year old step-daughter recently told me that they'd learnt in school about the questionable ethics involved with brands such as Shein and as a result of that, she's not willing to use them. This certainly signposts the next generation down the correct avenues in my opinion.”
Can you tell us about the most exciting repair you’ve been involved with?
“Jackets are often an extension of the people who wear them and we've had lots of interesting people kindly let us work on their jackets. From stuntmen to well-known musicians, TV presenters and professional sportspeople, seeing their love for the humble waxed jacket is always exciting. We once fixed up an old leather flight jacket that the owner told us had seen service in the Battle of Britain, so I guess it doesn't get more significant than that.”
How long can a waxed jacket last?
“They can and do last a lifetime. We see the proof daily as heirlooms land in our workshop to be reproofed, passed down from generation to generation. Waxed cotton is pretty robust so with regular care it will last for several lifetimes.”
What's the oldest jacket you've repaired?
“The jackets that immediately jump to mind are two 1950's Belstaff jackets that were recovered from an old shed. We decided to fix one up and leave the other for posterity. Once we'd stitched up the odd rip, cleaned and reproofed, it was genuinely as good as new. Both were later sold to the same collector.”
Do you plan to do other kinds of repairs in the future?
“Currently, the volume of repairs and our resources mean we specialise and focus only on waxed cotton. Our style of repairs is 'showing your workings' —inspired by the Japanese 'wabi-sabi' influence — adds another signature to the service we offer. We do see a future where repairing becomes more mainstream, though, and building out from wax to provide more services is undoubtedly on our list for the future.”
How far has repairing popularity come since you started?
“We may be biased as we're surrounded by a community of like-minded businesses, of which there are many, but I do feel the cost of living pinch combined with a change of consumer habits has encouraged more people to think about repairing what they have. We're seeing a sea change in younger people as they turn to second hand sites over fast fashion on the high street. They want their money to stretch further and I am seeing a big shift in the conscience of shoppers. My 14 year old step-daughter recently told me that they'd learnt in school about the questionable ethics involved with brands such as Shein and as a result of that, she's not willing to use them. This certainly signposts the next generation down the correct avenues in my opinion.”
