Repair

What?

Self-driven product repair carried out by users can be supported via the product.

Why?

Repairs can prolong the product lifespan. This can be motivated by user economy, ideology and/or emotional attachment to a product.

Challenges

• User skills might be limited.
• It can be difficult to get hold of spare parts.
• Users might experience lack of motivation.
• Inexpensive items may not motivate repair.

Examples

Online communities for all types of repair is a growing phenomenon such as ifixit.com (www.ifixit.com/).

Websites where users share very basic craft skills for repairing clothes, such as on Lifehacker (http://lifehacker.com).

Christopher Ræburn’s remade-reduced-recycled initiative has created the Ræburn Repair’s open day, where customers can bring items for repair free of charge (www.christopherraeburn.co.uk)

Further Reading

• Barnatt (2012). Seven Ways to Fix the World. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Fletcher & Tham (ed.) (2015). Routledge Book of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles. Routledge.
• Fletcher (2016). Craft of Use. Routledge
• Gwilt (2014). Fashion and Sustainability: Repairing the Clothes We Wear. In: Gwilt (ed.) Fashion Design for Living. Routledge.