Mend! A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto
Mend! A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto
Written by clothes historian and visible mending educator Kate Sekules — who has taught repair techniques at NYU, Parsons, and the Fashion Institute of Technology — this is the book that turns a needle and thread into a creative act rather than a chore. It sits on Ziracle alongside Socko because the philosophy is identical: clothes are worth keeping.
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Mending has always existed. For most of human history it was simply what you did with clothes you valued. Then fast fashion made it easier to replace than repair, and a deep craft quietly disappeared. Kate Sekules is one of the people who brought it back.
Sekules is a writer, clothes historian, and mending educator with a masters in Costume Studies from NYU and a PfD candidacy in material culture at the Bard Graduate Center. She has taught the techniques and history of repair at Columbia University, RISD Museum, the Textile Arts Center, and the Costume Society of America, among others. Her writing has appeared in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and The New York Times. MEND! is the book that brings all of that together.
What makes it different from other mending guides is the combination of depth and practicality. It is part manifesto — a clear-eyed argument for why visible mending matters right now — and part hands-on manual, with more than thirty techniques ranging from classic darning and patching to methods Sekules invented herself. The photography is genuinely beautiful, the tone is sharp and funny, and the instruction is clear enough for someone who has never threaded a needle.
What you will find inside:
- More than 30 mending techniques, from classic darning and patching to Sekules's own original methods
- Illustrated tutorials and stitch guides
- A ten-step closet mend
- Interviews with menders from across the movement
- Museum conservator and vintage dealer tricks
- Moth elimination guidance
- Cheat sheets and fun facts throughout
- A history of mending as craft, art form, and political act
The book covers every skill level. Whether you are picking up a needle for the first time or looking to develop a more considered practice, the instruction scales with you.
Why it is here alongside Socko: Socko builds repair into every pair of socks they sell — each one ships with a mending kit and darning instructions. MEND! is the natural companion: the book that explains why repair matters, teaches you how to do it well, and makes the whole thing feel like creative expression rather than a domestic obligation. Every choice adds up, and this one starts with your wardrobe.
About Our Brand Socko
Socko tackles the often-overlooked issue of textile waste within everyday essentials, specifically focusing on socks. In a world grappling with the environmental impact of fast fashion, Socko provides a solution for durable, comfortable footwear that actively diverts materials from landfill, offering a more responsible choice for consumers.
What truly sets Socko apart is their innovative material composition, which transforms discarded resources into high-performance products. Their socks are made from a blend of 50% pre-consumer garment cutting waste cotton, 33% polyester from recycled plastic bottles, and 17% ECONYL® regenerated nylon from fishing nets, ensuring both exceptional durability and comfort.
Beyond material innovation, Socko champions a repair culture, a tangible commitment to longevity that extends the life of their products. Every pair includes a mending kit and darning instructions, empowering customers to participate in reducing textile waste and fostering a more sustainable consumption behaviour.