Mending Commissions

Clothing is a record of time. Thinning fabric, holes, tears and smells hold the memory of the life lived within the garment. Adding my mends, I’m collapsing time—merging old and new—and adding myself into it. From this point on, I get to be part of a garment’s story.

Ellie’s Shirt
Mends with cotton DMC embroidery thread
December 2023

Cole’s Coat
Wool mends accompanying prior black cotton mends by owner’s wife
2023

Melanie’s Shirt
Mends with cotton DMC embroidery thread
2023

Mending for someone else allows me to connect with others over a thing they hold dear (you wouldn’t ask someone else to mend something for you unless it meant a lot to you). I enjoy the trust and being part of such an intimate experience. 

Jordan’s Pants
Mends with cotton DMC embroidery thread
2023

Mending can act as a metaphor for the care we take with our relationships. Over time areas can get worn down and need attention. 

This cross-shaped hole was one of my most challenging darns yet. Starting with the sides and then working down the center, I had to build off of my darns in stages rather than working on repairing the whole tear all at once. Relationships are built on many interactions, and when something goes wrong, they can’t always be fixed with one conversation. It takes time and effort to rebuild, and even then there is no guarantee that things will be the same. 

I reinforced the weak areas of fabric with more running stitches. Because Jordan wears these pants in the studio and while climbing, I wanted to give this area more support. I attached a patch to the inside of the tear with the diagonal stitches you see from the front.