How to repair vintage clothes from needle to tailor

Vintage clothes are durable, but even they need care and sometimes repair. Practical: you can either handle most common problems yourself, or they can be solved cheaply at a tailor. First of all, it pays to distinguish between what you can do at home and what belongs to a tailor.

What you can do at home Loose button, basic stitch, thread in the color of the button or piece, double thread for strength. Sew the button over the small backup button on the reverse (prevents the fabric from tearing under stress). A small hole, a patch from the reverse, sewn with an invisible stitch or ironed. The sashiko technique (Japanese visible fabric stitching, aesthetic and strong) works with denim. Split tab, basic stitch or fabric glue. Cleaning from stains, see our cleaning guide.

What belongs to a tailor Lining, changing the lining is a job for a tailor. It is possible to do it yourself, but the result is usually visible. Price at a tailor: 300-800 CZK depending on the complexity. Zipper, changing a zipper is technically demanding, especially with leather. Price: 300–600 CZK. Shortening or tapering, sleeve length,

shortening of trousers, narrowing of side seams. Price: CZK 150–400 per operation. Repairing the shoulders, the shoulders are the most difficult part of the garment. If the arms do not fit, do not repair, look for another piece.

What belongs to a specialized leather repair shop Deep cracks in the leather, the tailor has neither the material nor the experience. Leather haberdashery or cobbler. Major damage to the lining of a leather jacket, the combination of leather and lining is specialist work. Leather dyeing, if you want to change the color of a leather jacket, only a specialized repair shop.