How to Repair and Preserve Your Holiday Clothes: Tips for Extending Your Summer

Why prolong the life of your clothes?

Repairing rather than throwing away your clothes is an economical, ecological and practical choice. Did you know that repairing a garment increases the number of times it is used by 75%? On average, a garment is worn around twenty times before being discarded. Repairing a damaged item gives it around 15 new uses, giving it a second life.

As well as saving money, extending the life of your clothes also reduces their ecological footprint. Repairing a garment can reduce up to 30% of the CO₂ emissions linked to its production and transport. This means you're making a direct contribution to preserving the environment by avoiding the need to buy a new product.

By choosing to have your clothes repaired with Tilli, not only are you doing something for the planet, but you're also saving money on your clothing costs. Thanks to our service and the Repair Bonus, it's easier and cheaper to extend the useful life of your favourite clothes.

Why call on Tilli for your summer clothing?

When your holiday clothes show signs of wear and tear, some repairs require professional expertise to ensure a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing result. Our Makers at Tilli follow strict quality standards to ensure that every garment is treated with the utmost care. Taking into account the budget, style and wishes of our customers, we tailor our proposals to offer a repair solution that perfectly meets their expectations. Our Makers can go from the most invisible to the most creative, offering a range of economical, technical and creative options to ensure that each unique garment receives the attention it deserves.

Why choose repair rather than replacement?

Extending the life of your clothes makes sense. Here are a few more reasons why you should repair your clothes.

Preserve your favourite clothes.
Holiday clothes can have sentimental value. Whether it's a dress worn to a special event or comfy beach shorts, repair allows you to keep these treasured pieces. By extending their use by an average of 15 times, you maximise their durability while avoiding unnecessary expense.

Reduce textile waste.
By repairing your clothes, you're actively helping to reduce textile waste. Every garment repaired means one less garment thrown away, and therefore a contribution to reducing textile pollution. Did you know? The fashion sector is responsible for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions, and extending the life of clothes can reduce these emissions by up to 30%.

Support local Makers.
By using Tilli, you're supporting skilled artisans who put their expertise at your service. This not only helps the local economy, but also maintains and passes on know-how that is essential to textile repair.

Our repair methods

Summer clothes are often made from lightweight fabrics such as silk, linen or cotton, and can be particularly prone to wear and tear during the summer season. Here's how we repair your garments while maintaining their elegance and functionality.

Technique for Delicate Fabrics
Lightweight fabrics like silk, linen and cotton can tear easily. Our expert Makers use invisible sewing techniques to repair these tears without altering the appearance of the garment. We choose threads that match the original fabric to ensure that the repair is almost imperceptible. This approach is ideal for summer dresses, lightweight shirts or linen tops.

Frayed Edge Repair
Frayed edges are common on summer garments, especially after several washes. To restore these garments, our Makers use an overthreading technique with a suitable thread. If necessary, we also reinforce the edges with a matching bias fabric to prevent future fraying. This method ensures both strength and discretion.

Repairing Tears and Holes
Whether it's playing on the beach or hanging on furniture, it's common for tears to appear on summer clothing. For thin fabrics, we use an invisible seam that preserves the look of the garment. If the material is thicker, such as cotton, we reinforce the area with a reinforcing piece sewn on the inside, which is not only discreet but also prevents future tears.

Button and zip replacement
Zips and buttons play a crucial role in the functionality of summer clothing, and a broken zip can quickly render an outfit unusable. Stuck or broken zips are no problem for our Makers. We can replace or repair them to ensure perfect function while maintaining the appearance of the garment.

Replacing buttons is also a common task for us. Whether it's for a shirt or a pair of Trousers, we replace the missing buttons with ones that match the original, or customise them to suit your preferences. This not only extends the life of the garment, but also brings it up to date with your current tastes.

Care and Preservation: Our Tips for Your Summer Clothes

Extending the life of your clothes doesn't just mean repairing them, it also means looking after them. Here are a few tips for keeping your summer clothes in perfect condition, even after repairs.

Low temperature washing
Washing your summer clothes at a lower temperature helps to preserve the colour and texture of delicate fabrics. Washing at 30°C is generally sufficient for cotton, silk or linen garments, while saving energy. Not only does this reduce the risk of warping or fading, it also reduces your carbon footprint.

Free Air Drying
Tumble dryers are the enemy of delicate fabrics. To preserve the quality of your summer clothes, opt for air drying. As well as reducing energy consumption, air drying prevents shrinkage and premature wear of the fibres.

Tough Stain Treatment
Sun Cream and Oil: We recommend using a mild Marseille soap or stain remover, then leaving to work before rinsing with cold water. Avoid hot water, as it can set the stain. Effective pre-treatment is essential to remove stains without damaging the fabric.

Chlorine and Sea Salt:
Rinse immediately with cold water and wash the garment with a mild detergent. For chlorine or salt stains, it is important to rinse the garment well to remove any chemical residue that could damage the fibres in the long term.

Spilled drinks:
Immediately dab the stain with a clean cloth to absorb any excess liquid. Apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the stain, leave for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water. This simple but effective method can treat most stains without the need for harsh chemicals.

Our prices and the Repair Bonus

As a repairer approved by the Repair Bonus, Tilli gives you a discount on the cost of your repairs! Find out more about the rates for our services and the Repair Bonus discount on our price list. This financial support makes repairs even more accessible, allowing you to benefit from high-quality services at competitive prices. As well as saving money, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're contributing to a more sustainable way of consuming.

Extending the life of your holiday clothes is a wise choice, from an economic, ecological and stylistic point of view. By having your clothes repaired with Tilli, you'll not only benefit from the Repair Bonus, but you'll also be part of a movement to reduce textile waste and extend the life of your clothes. Take care of your summer outfits, and prolong the holiday spirit for seasons to come!