Repair or Replace? How to Think About It
By TaVare · updated 2026-07-27
Sometimes buying new is the right call, but more often than people think a repair pays off – both for your wallet and for the environment. Here is a simple way to make the decision, without guesswork.
Work out the cost per wear
Divide the price of the garment by the number of times you will wear it. A quality garment you repair and keep wearing works out cheaper per wear than a new, cheap one you wear a few times. A repair extends exactly that number of wears.
How much life does the garment have left?
Look at the fabric and the seams. If the rest of the garment is sound and only one thing has failed – a zip, a seam, a hole – the answer is usually repair. If the garment is worn everywhere and thin in the fabric, it may be time to replace it.
Quality and sentiment count
Well-made clothes and garments you love are worth repairing. A solid wool coat or a favourite jacket often outlasts several cheap garments combined – and an inherited or sentimental piece cannot be replaced at any price.
The environmental maths
Repairing extends a garment's life and saves the raw materials, water and CO₂ emissions a new garment would have cost. Keeping clothes in use longer is one of the most effective things an individual can do to reduce the climate footprint of their wardrobe.
In doubt? Ask for a quote
For repairs and alterations the job is priced by garment and task. You see the price before you order, so you can compare it against what a new garment would cost before you decide. You order easily online.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth repairing clothes?+
Often yes, especially for quality garments or ones you love. Compare the cost per wear of a repair against buying new.
When should I buy new instead?+
When the whole garment is worn out, not just one part. Sometimes replacing it is right – that is an honest answer.
Is repairing better for the environment?+
Yes. Extending a garment's life saves the raw materials, water and CO₂ emissions a new garment would require.
How do I know what a repair costs?+
You see the price before you order, so you can weigh it against buying new.
Ready to fix it?