Join us on Mend in Public Day
On Saturday 25 April, Bristol Slow Fashion Collective will take to the streets to repair clothes in protest of disposable fashion as part of Mend In Public Day. Everyone is invited to join our public mending meet ups taking place around Bristol, including St Andrew’s Park, St George Park and – with Making Mends – at Windmill Hill City Farm.
Mending in public / Credit: Liv Simpliciano
Now in its third year, Fashion Revolution’s annual Mend In Public Day is a day of collective action highlighting the importance of caring for the clothes we already have, rather than buying more. It exists to encourage seasoned repairers and beginners alike to get out into our communities and experience the joys of bringing our favourite items back to life, while keeping clothing out of landfill. The day is celebrated globally, with 140+ events taking place across 38 countries in 2025.
Rethinking our relationship with fast fashion
Keep Britain Tidy reports that in the UK 300,000 tonnes of used clothing ends up in landfill or is incinerated every year; more per person than any other European country. Mend In Public Day accompanies growing public awareness of mountains of throw-away fast fashion accumulating around the world, seen in images of vast textile wastelands in Accra, Ghana, and the Atacama Desert in Chile, which has been visible from space.
Mending is an act of gentle protest
Slow Fashion Collective member, Mel Watt, co-founded Mend In Public Day during her time at Fashion Revolution. She says:
“Mend In Public Day is a truly global day of action uniting communities around the world in an act of gentle protest. In busy public spaces, the visual contrast of shoppers and menders, fastness and slowness, impulsivity and intentionality always draws people in.
“Mending encourages a moment of pause and gifts us a newfound perspective on the time and skill that goes into making our wardrobes. It ultimately gives us one small way to rebel against throwaway fashion while paying homage to the people who made our clothes.”
Who is the Bristol Slow Fashion Collective?
Bristol Slow Fashion Collective is a group of textile and repair artists, slow fashion organisations and publications including Rebel Patch, Rethrindle, Making Mends, Not Buying It magazine, and Weaving Change.
How to take part
Join the collective for a morning of creativity, community and connection, learning and honing in on vital repair skills. On Saturday 25 April, we invite you to mend in public at one or multiple of the following locations:
St.George Park (meet at The Bake Box Cafe) with ReThrindle and Rebel Patch, 10:00–13:00 / spite.finds.reduce
St. Andrew’s Park with Weaving Change, 10:00-13:00 / third.grew.invite
Windmill Hill City Farm with Making Mends, 10:00-12:00 / orbit.train.pines
Bring along something you would like to mend and, if you need, we will provide support and material.
Alongside mend-ins across the city, Not Buying It will be hosting a DIY badge and bag charm session at the Slow Fashion Studio inside Sparks. All materials will be provided to help you switch up your style without buying new.
You can find up-to-date details of locations and timings over on Headfirst Bristol.
List your meet up with us
If you’ll be mending in public elsewhere in Bristol and you’d like others to join you, please email weronika.stelmach@weavingchange.co.uk to add your details to the Bristol Mend In Public Day map.
Questions about joining me at the Windmill Hill meet up?
Please get in touch.