How to Repair and Prevent Wear on Children's Clothes for the New Year

Why prolong the life of your children's clothes?

Repairing clothes rather than replacing them is an economical, practical and sustainable choice. Did you know that repairing a garment can increase its number of uses by 75%? On average, a garment is worn around 20 times before being discarded. Repairing a garment gives it around 15 new uses, which considerably extends its lifespan.

As well as saving money, choosing to repair clothes also reduces their ecological footprint. Repairing a garment can reduce up to 30% of the CO₂ emissions linked to its manufacture and transport. For families who want to instil values of sustainability and responsibility in their children, repairing their clothes is a great first step.

By opting for repair with Tilli, you're extending the life of your children's favourite outfits while taking care of the environment. What's more, with the Repair Bonus, you can significantly reduce costs.

Our Repair Methods for Children's Clothing

Children's clothes are often subject to wear and tear, particularly at the knees, elbows and hems. Here are some of the most common repairs we offer to keep their clothes in perfect condition, ready for the new school year.

Repairs for Torn Knees and Elbows
Playgrounds are particularly hard on children's clothes, especially around the knees and elbows, where fabrics tend to wear or tear. For small tears, our Makers use a sewing technique with matching threads to repair the damaged area without adding too much thickness. For larger tears, we apply fabric reinforcements in patterns or colours that can either blend in with the garment or add a playful touch.

These reinforcements not only serve to strengthen the garments, they can also become a fun, personalised feature. Whether your child loves dinosaurs, stars, or bright colours, we offer creative options that turn the repair into an original touch.

Frayed Hem Repair
The hems of children's Trousers and skirts often suffer from rubbing, which can cause fraying or tearing. To restore these areas, our Makers use clean topstitching and sometimes reinforce the hems with a discreet fabric bias to make them stronger and more durable. This extends the life of the garment while maintaining its appearance.

Zipper and button replacement
Zips and buttons are often the first items to break or wear out on children's clothing. A stuck or broken zip can quickly render a garment unusable. Our Makers are used to replacing all types of zips and buttons. Whether it's a jacket, a back-to-school jacket or even an upcoming winter coat, we repair or replace the necessary components while respecting the garment's original style. You can also opt for personalised buttons, according to your child's preferences.

Care and Preservation of Children's Clothes

As well as repairing, it's important to look after your children's clothes to prolong their life, especially after repairs. Here are a few tips for keeping their clothes in good condition:

Low Temperature Washing
Washing your children's clothes at a lower temperature preserves the quality of the fabrics while reducing the wear and tear caused by washing too often. Washing at 30°C is enough to clean most clothes while preserving their texture and colour.

Air drying
Tumble drying can be tempting to speed up the drying of clothes, but it can also damage them, especially delicate fabrics. Prefer air drying to prevent clothes from shrinking or wearing out prematurely.

Why choose repair rather than replacement?

Preserve your children's favourite clothes.
Some clothes have sentimental value for your children or are particularly suited to their everyday comfort. Repairing these garments allows them to continue wearing them without having to replace them frequently.

Reduce textile waste.
By repairing your children's clothes, you're actively helping to reduce textile waste. Every garment repaired means less waste in landfill, which helps to preserve our planet. What's more, extending the life of a garment reduces the CO₂ emissions linked to the production of new clothes by up to 30%.

Support local Makers.
By calling on Tilli, you are helping to promote local craftsmanship. Our skilled Makers put their expertise at your service to carefully repair your children's clothes and thus offer you sustainable solutions tailored to your needs.

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 our prices and the Repair Bonus discount on our price list. This financial support makes repairing your children's clothes even more accessible, while allowing you to benefit from high-quality services at competitive prices.

Repairing your children's clothes for back-to-school is a wise choice, both economically and ecologically. Thanks to the professional repair services offered by Tilli and the support of the Repair Bonus, extending the life of your children's clothes has never been easier or more beneficial. By repairing their outfits, you're helping to reduce textile waste while promoting sustainability. Get ready for the new school year, while saving money and helping the planet!