It’s official. We’re no longer mend and make do society. And here are some shocking stats to prove it. According to research collected by sustainable fashion brand Thought, most of us readily admit to being cack-handed these days:

• Only one-third of UK folks (36%) bother to repair ripped or torn clothes;

• One in four (25%) choose not to mend clothes because they say it’s easier to buy new ones;

• A fifth of us ‘can’t be bothered’ to make repairs with one in seven (15%) admitting to not knowing how to anyway;

• A third of Brits reckon they can’t do that most staple of clothing repairs – sewing a button back on.

Hang your heads in shame, Brits. But it’s not just clothing…

Among other, once essential tasks roughly half of us can no longer do are change a car tyre, repair a bicycle puncture, bake a cake, erect some shelving or bleed the radiators.

One-third of us claim we’re incapable of changing a plug, unblocking a sink and cooking a roast dinner – with a fifth of folks unable to pot a plant or hang a picture.

All this is music to ears of pedlars of the throwaway society – fast fashion outlets, junk food stores and other planet-throttling waste producers.

But there are ethical alternatives so simple even the most laid back of people can slow down their fast fashion instincts (Thought’s mantra, for example, is ‘wear me, love me, mend me, pass me on’).

At The Zip Yard, we believe that just because you lack the skills to repair your own clothes it doesn’t mean you have to continuously buy new ones.

Having clothes professionally repaired so they fit better and last longer means not only can you easily extend the life of your favourite clothes (doing your bit for the planet in the process) but it is cheaper and easier than scouring shops for new ones.

Our bright, clean, modern town centre stores are easy to find and easy to use. You’ll receive expert advice and fast service from in house seamstresses as part of your shopping experience – and be able to head home with clothes good as new. Find your nearest shop on our Store Locations page, or drop us a message via our Contact Page.