Repairability refers to the potential of fashion items to be easily repaired and maintained, ensuring they are kept in use for longer. This is enabled for example by including components that can be replaced, such as buttons, or by providing extra swatches of materials for visible or invisible mending. Alternatively, easy access to professional repair services that can help maintain a product’s function and aesthetic also facilitates repairability. When applied to design and product development, design for repairability gives careful consideration to future use and finds creative ways for design to ‘absorb’ future repairs without compromising the item’s aesthetic appeal.(4) Design for repairability and re-education in repair skills are now considered among priorities in extending clothing lifetimes and a transition to more sustainable ways of engaging with and enjoying fashion.(1-8)
REPAIRABILITY
