Case Study - Rain Jacket

 


As a result of an accident, the bottom section of the zip on this rain jacket was separated from the rest of the jacket. I knew I didn’t have the skills to fix it. My sewing skills are limited to sewing on buttons. My partner said that she didn’t have the skills to fix it. Her sewing skills were considerably better than mine but would not take on reattaching a zipper to a rain jacket. The jacket was in good condition with the exception that the zip was separated from the rest of the jacket. The rain jacket is at least 10 years old.

I was looking at having to send the jacket to landfill and buying a new rain jacket. The rain jacket is one that I regularly use on bushwalks and is waterproof. The rain jacket is made of Goretex, which provides excellent protection when it rains. It would cost me more than $200 to replace the jacket, possibly a lot more.

 I decided to take it to the repair café run by the Community Toolbox Canberra (https://www.communitytoolboxcbr.org/) held on the last Saturday of the month from 2pm to 5pm. Beth, the repairer, initially looked at it and wasn’t sure she could fix it. Zips can be quite complicated, I understand. However, she had a go and was able to fix it very promptly. Thank you Beth!

As a result, I have a waterproof jacket that I will be able to wear for a lot more years. I would totally recommend repair cafes to help you repair clothing that might otherwise end up in landfill.

Peter

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