Mend, Don’t End With These 16 Online Clothes Repair & Alteration Services
Worn out wardrobe got you down?
Online clothes repair services can breathe new life into those favorite frayed jeans—while reminding us of the importance of continuing to love the pre-loved.
While slow fashion brands are paving the path for a better fashion future, the single best thing we can do is make what we already own last longer.
That 70 pounds of clothes and shoes each of us throws away every year needs to be curbed.
Fortunately, clothing repairs and alterations can patch up some of fast fashion’s dirty work.
But admittedly, not everyone has the time or skills to repair their own clothes (simple mends are often easier than they seam).
If that sounds like you—and there’s no “clothing repair near me”—these online clothes repair services are for you and your worn-out wardrobe.
For more on why online clothing repairs are so important, stitch your way to the end of the article.
QUICK LINKS TO ONLINE CLOTHING REPAIR & ALTERATIONS
Online Clothing Repairs in the USA
Online Clothes Repair in the UK (and Germany)
Australia’s Clothes Repair Shop
ONLINE CLOTHING REPAIRS & ALTERATIONS IN THE USA
1. HIDDEN OPULENCE
Hidden Opulence’s Online Clothes Repair Services
Offering the full gamut in online clothes repairs, you can turn to Hidden Opulence to repair buttons, snaps, hooks, eyes, and zippers.
They also mend holes, dye garments, and perform a range of alterations (hems, taking in seams, letting out fabric to side seams, altering waste, and adding pockets).
If your garment needs a little more love, they offer custom embellishments and upcycle projects.
For designers, they can assist with temporary sample production, too.
About Hidden Opulence
Considered one of the best online clothes repair services by a range of publications, Hidden Opulence was founded by Drea Johnson—who’s been sewing since she was just 5 years old.
The Portland, Oregon-based design house prioritizes upcycling and sustainability by working with both apparel brands and the general public.
If you identify as queer, non-binary, and/or BIPOC like their founder, you’ll have a special place in Hidden’s heart.
Available: Hidden Opulence
2. REI
REI’s Online Clothes Repair Services
When it comes to clothes repair online for your well-loved outdoor gear, REI has the experts to make that GORE-TEX® jacket good as new.
For things like broken sleeping bags and holey rain jackets, they partner with Seattle-based Rainy Pass Repair.
They also have a recommended cobbler to help with resoling and repairing mountain boots and repairable shoes.
Located in Vancouver, TentPole Technologies can assist with—you guessed it—tent pole repairs.
In addition to providing basic tent pole repairs, many REI stores have ski, snowboard, and bike shops that can fix and align more specific outdoor gear needs.
About REI
REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) is a treasure trove for adventurers, campers, and all-around dirtbags who do most of their living outdoors.
Since 1938, they’ve provided the tools and apparel to help more people experience the outdoors—including a more recent push to highlight diversity in the outdoors.
As a member-owned cooperative, 70% of annual profits are invested back into the outdoor community, funding outdoor nonprofits, employee profit-sharing and retirement, and member dividends.
Instead of Black Friday, they #OptOutside, closing doors to give all employees the day off.
Available: REI
3. HEM ME UP
Hem Me Up’s Online Clothing Repairs and Alterations
Offering some of the best online alterations and tailoring services in the US, Hem Me Up puts the power of professional tailoring at the touch of a button.
You’ll measure what you need for repair, make an order, and ship to the Boulder, Colorado workshop.
After they receive your cloth(es), wait just 5-8 days before you receive quality mends in the mail.
Their services include pant and jean hems, waist resizing, shoulder straps adjustments, button repairs, dress hems, suit and jacket tailoring, denim restoration, and repairs for all types of garments (including ethical leggings and stretch fabrics).
About Hem Me Up
Specializing in mail in alterations, Hem Me Up can restore your upper or lower garment apparel to its newest form so that it can be fun to wear again.
With more than 45 years of experience, they’re confident you’ll be happy with the final result.
Available: Hem Me Up
4. LITTLE CLIFF
Little Cliff’s Online Clothes Repair Services
Little Cliff’s “Mending Menu” includes denim booty blowout, zipper, belt loop repairs, and patches.
For all types of clothing (and some home goods), they can repair underarm seams, hem, replace buttons, and perform miscellaneous patching and darning.
If you’re in St. Louis looking for clothes repair near you in the locale they also offer darning, mending, sewing, and repair classes in their studio so you can learn the trade.
About Little Cliff
Like many of these other online tailors, Little Cliff was born out of the pandemic, when founder Alexis Giger was laid off from her fashion design job.
Amidst growing awareness of the fashion industry’s environmental concerns, she wanted to create meaningful change.
Helping with exactly that, local St. Louis clients can drop off garments at monthly popups while out-of-town clients can send theirs by mail.
Available: Little Cliff
5. ALTERKNIT
AlterKnit’s Clothes Repair Online
Available for those who live both inside and outside the US, AlterKnit offers several mail order clothing repair services.
These include sweater repair, suit repair, general garment repair, knit restyling/resizing, sweater de-pilling, garment handwashing, shoe and handbag repair, alterations, and garment cleaning.
Truly a one-stop shop for clothing repair needs, their services start at $45 and most take 4-6 weeks (exclusive of shipping time).
About AlterKnit
AlterKnit is proud to “fix clothing that other companies turn away. And if we can’t fix it to our standards, we tell you.”
Because they work by hand and repair garments by sourcing “invisible fibers” from the garments themselves, AlterKnit’s carbon footprint is virtually non-existent, shipping aside.
All repairs are made in the USA.
Available: AlterKnit
6. RUGGED THREAD
Rugged Thread’s Online Clothes Repair Services
Make your sustainable outdoor clothing even more sustainable by keeping it adventure-fit for longer.
With a name like Rugged Thread, it’s no surprise they’re one of the best online clothes repair services for technical outdoor clothing and gear.
They offer repairs for zippers, backpacks, outerwear, tents, motorcycle gear, and sleeping bags.
Locals can visit the Bend, Oregon clothes repair shop in-person, while those from afar can take advantage of their mail in clothes repair services.
About Rugged Thread
Woman-founded Rugged Thread believes in the power of community, which is why they’re revitalizing the artisan craft of sewing.
All while giving employees flexible schedules, paid time off, and paid community volunteer days.
By 2025, they hope to repair 20,000 garments annually and create 22 living wage jobs to do so.
To date, they’ve diverted 40,000 pounds of textiles from landfills.
Available: Rugged Thread
7. OLD FLAME MENDING
Old Flame Mending’s Clothes Repair Online
Claiming that they’ll “fix anything but a broken heart,” Old Flame Mending can perform repairs for denim, sweaters, purses, bags, and luggage.
They also offer button and zipper replacements, tailoring, formal dress alterations, hemming and taking in, patching, darning, pocket replacement, redesigns, and embroidery.
They don’t perform leather or fur restorations, bridal alterations, or suit jacket tailoring.
Pickup and drop-off are available for local Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania residents and mail in clothes repair is available for other US residents.
About Old Flame Mending
Recognizing that the fashion industry isn’t just the world’s second-largest polluter but also a contributor to classism, racism, sizeism, and exploitation of workers, Old Flame Mending wants to break free from the status quo.
The woman-owned clothes repair shop is helping us do the same.
Valuing Black lives, BIPOC experiences, size inclusivity, workers’ rights, queer people, and disability justice, they want to amend clothes so that they can be a true expression of identity.
Available: Old Flame Mending
8. TAD MORE TAILORING
Tad More Tailoring’s Clothes Alteration Online
Tad More Tailoring is an online seamstress service with an unmatched 5-day turnaround.
They can perform men’s and women’s online alterations for pants, shirts, shorts, suit jackets, outerwear, bridal wear, skirts, and dresses.
Repairs they can perform include darning, resewing, hole restoration, strap reinforcement, and more.
About Tad More Tailoring
Illinois-based Tad More Tailoring exists to “improve the fashion industry with every stitch.”
The in-person or mail in alterations company was started by a skilled tailor who dreamed of having his own shop to create top-quality, masterpieces for all people.
He now brings the craftsmanship and art of sewing to life with each piece.
Available: Tad More Tailoring
ONLINE CLOTHES REPAIR SERVICES IN THE UK (AND GERMANY)
9. CLOTHES DOCTOR
Clothes Doctor’s Clothing Repair Services
Clothes Doctor is “the home of sustainable clothing care”.
In addition to offering specialist detergents and tools for all fabric types, they also have a range of repair and rewear services.
They can repair holes, replace buttons, mend pockets, restitch seams, repair leather, replace zippers, reline jackets and coats, turn collars, tighten hems, and more.
As far as online alterations go, they can narrow trouser legs, take garments in or out at any point, and shorten or lengthen hems, legs, and sleeves,
They offer a three-month guarantee on their work.
About Clothes Doctor
Woman-founded Clothes Doctor believes in slow fashion and encourages us to remember the most sustainable clothes we own are those already in our closets.
This is why the clothes repair shop online also offers ways for you to safely clean specialized garments at home (without the dry cleaner) and tools to maintain them for a long life.
While based in the UK, they offer shipping globally.
Available: Clothes Doctor
10. FANFARE
Fanfare’s Vintage Revival and Clothes Repair Online
Fanfare offers a range of online clothing repairs for Fanfare products (through a partnership with Clothes Doctor).
They also offer premade or custom upcycling (patchwork, embroidery, and fabric painting) and repair options for jeans.
Get in touch with Fanfare and they’ll send mail in alteration instructions for both UK residents and those living abroad.
About Fanfare
Fanfare is a sustainable streetwear and upcycled clothing brand that wants to change how people buy, wear, and discard clothing.
They sell upcycled vintage, as well as products made by local UK artisans, female-led businesses, and suppliers who provide employment opportunities to vulnerable women and those facing homelessness.
In addition to making repairs easy for their clothing, they also provide options to responsibly recycle Fanfare pieces.
Available: Fanfare
11. THE RESTORY
The Restory’s Mail Order Clothing Repair
Available for both London residents and worldwide customers, The Restory offers restoration services performed by an in-house team of artisans.
Their clothes repair services cover knitwear, shirts and blouses, suit jackets, trousers and jeans, dresses and skirts, coats and outerwear, eveningwear, and wedding and bridal garments.
They can also repair bags and shoes, including those by designer brands.
About The Restory
Considered “Aftercare for Fashion” The Restory is an on-demand online clothes repair brand for luxury fashion.
They use a team of specialists from all around the globe to ensure that your items receive the best care while providing training to the next generation of tailor and seamstress masters.
Available: The Restory
12. MAKE NU
Make Nu’s Mail In Alterations and Repairs
Transforming worn to off-the-rack new, Make Nu is a go-to for clothes repair online.
They repair knitwear holes, often with cute visible mends in the shape of spiders, daisies, roses, and more.
Repairs for other types of garments include zipper replacements, seam repairs, and tear mending.
Re-working denim is another specialty of theirs, think: patches or fabric inserts, repairing crotch holes, or glamming up with other embellishments.
Custom embroidery is also available.
About Make Nu
The woman-founded online seamstress service works exclusively with local darners, seamers, and embroiderers to empower craftspeople and allow us to re-love our wardrobes.
Garments can be dropped off at the London shop or via UK-wide shipping options.
Available: Make Nu
13. THE SEAM
The Seam’s Clothing Repairs
With both online alteration options and an answer to Londoners seeking clothes mending near me, The Seam is London’s answer to clothes in need of TLC.
They operate uniquely by connecting you directly with Makers.
You can opt to have them come directly to your London home (range soon to expand to more UK cities), or you can pay them a visit at their local studio.
With skilled craftspeople available for a range of jobs, you can choose between alteration, repair, or made-to-measure services.
About The Seam
The Seam founder Layla wants clothes to be consistently loved.
With so many independent partners in their network, they can provide the best online alterations and repairs for your particular needs.
This also provides ways for local Makers to earn extra money.
Available: The Seam
14. SPLENDID STITCHES
Splendid Stitches’ Mail Order Clothing Repair Services
With more than a decade of experience, Splendid Stitches has become a go-to clothes repair shop for vintage alterations and fixes.
Their operations are twofold: 1) to make vintage wearable; and 2) to minimize the risk of future damage.
They offer a host of repair services like seam reinforcement, mending and patching, replacement of closures, fasteners, and broken elastic, hem length, sleeve, and neckline adjustments, relinings, and total reworks (i.e. transforming a dress to a jumpsuit).
They’re comfortable with vintage bridal gowns, too.
When available, vintage haberdashery is used.
About Splendid Stitches
Splendid Stitches specializes in pre-1990s vintage only (no fast fashion which they refuse to work on for ethical reasons).
Body positivity is a key focus, and they can make alterations to support confidence and comfort.
While online alterations and repair requests from individuals fill up quickly, they always welcome inquiries from fashion brands and retailers.
Founder Nanna has her own vintage Etsy shop, too.
Available: Splendid Stitches
15. REPAIR REBELS
Repair Rebels’ Online Clothing Repairs and Alterations
Our clothes deserve more appreciation, and Repair Rebels wants to make sure they receive it.
When you make use of their online clothes repair services, they pick up your garments and take them to a tailor/cobbler who carries out the repair work by hand.
Claiming that “nothing is impossible,” they’re willing to find a talented artisan for any project—sneakers, bags, boots, dresses, jackets, you name it.
While the German company prefers to perform repairs locally to reduce unnecessary CO2 emissions, they also welcome mail-in orders outside of Düsseldorf if no other options exist.
About Repair Rebels
Woman-founded Repair Rebels is like a mending matchmaker, providing extra income for talented handbag restorers, leather repairs, sewers, tailors, seamstresses, and upcyclers.
The circular economy startup wants to make textile and shoe repairs as easy and fashionable as purchasing them new.
Available: Repair Rebels
AUSTRALIAN CLOTHING REPAIR SHOP
16. SECOND STITCH
Second Stitch’s Online Clothes Repair Shop
Ticking all of the boxes, Second Stitch is at once a social enterprise not-for-profit and a place for clothing repairs and alterations.
Their in-house seamstresses and Industry Mentors provide common (and affordable) alterations for pants and jeans, dresses and skirts, jackets and coats, shirts and tops, and curtains.
They also offer repairs like darning holes (knits), patching holes (wovens), reinforcing or replacing buttons, and repairing hems.
Custom CMT (cut, make, and trim) options are available, too, like turning old garments into things like bum bags and more.
While you can purchase upcycled products online, they don’t actually offer mail in clothes repair at this time. Only in-person drop-off and pick-up are available at their Coburg studio.
About Second Stitch
Melbourne-based Second Stitch operates under VICSEG New Futures, an organization that’s been supporting refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers for more than 40 years.
The organization uses textiles to empower women from diverse backgrounds socially and economically.
The studio operates as a training space for students, allowing them to get an accredited MST30119 Certificate III in clothing and textile production while creating a space for community inclusion.
Over the past four years, Second Stitch has made more than 20,000 products and enabled countless women with the skills and training necessary to obtain employment.
Available: Second Stitch
WHY USE ONLINE CLOTHING REPAIR SERVICES?
Awareness of fast fashion ills has grown in recent years, and fast fashion alternatives are getting an overdue footing in wardrobes around the globe.
And joining them are the best online clothes repair services—because wearing what you already own is hands-down the best thing you can do for our planet.
When you extend the life of a garment by just 9 months, you reduce its water, carbon, and landfill footprint by 30%.
The process of repairing a garment encourages us to look at our clothes through a new lens, too. It teaches us to cherish each garment.
This attitude shift is beyond needed.
Americans alone send more than 11.3 million tons of textiles to landfills annually—up from just over 1,700 million tons in 1960 (when repairing clothes was commonplace).
To keep that number down, consider the following when pondering what to do with old clothes: repair, recycle, upcycle, sell, donate, or compost them, to name a few.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON CLOTHING REPAIR SHOPS ONLINE
Mending, repairing, tailoring, and altering services, give you the option of slowing down to love your clothes for longer.
In doing so, you can avoid fast fashion and prevent precious materials from a wasteful end.
Is there any better fashion trend than that and is online clothing repair and alteration a good look?
If you think so, share this article with your fellow fashionistas to breathe new life into an old familiar.
