Repairing fast fashion jeans: How it works

Good news: Even a pair of fast-fashion jeans gets better with every passing year. Only when the denim has been worn in do your jeans acquire a certain patina look that gives them an individual personality. Even if your jeans have a hole, a broken zipper or a frayed hem. Here you can find out how to repair the most common problems with broken jeans, such as repairing a hole in your jeans, mending a back pocket, repairing a tear in your jeans or ironing patches onto your jeans.

What you need:

• A pair of broken fast-fashion jeans
• An elastic band to repair a broken jeans zipper
• Scissors to repair a frayed hem without sewing
• Patches that you can glue or iron on yourself

Here's how to do it:

1. One of the most common problems with fast fashion jeans is that they are difficult to repair yourself if you don't know how to sew. Having a zipper replaced is an expensive affair. But with this super simple tip, you can repair the zipper on your jeans yourself in no time at all:

Thread a rubber band, hair band or even a paper clip through the zipper slider and then wrap it or them around the button. Et voilà! Open pants are a thing of the past. If you've put on a few pounds, are pregnant or are squeezing into a friend's pants, you can use the same simple trick and pull the elastic through the buttonhole and then wrap it around the button. Just pull a longer top over it that covers your waist and no one will ever know.

2. A frayed hem, like a broken zipper, is not uncommon and just as hard to fix if you don't know where to start. Luckily, you have fashion on your side. A high-low fringe is in right now. This is your chance to put this great DIY idea into practice. Simply cut off the worn hem and cut the hem at the front at ankle height. Then fringe the hem. For best results, wash your jeans once.

3. The back pockets of your jeans don't have it easy. They have to carry your wallet, cell phone and all sorts of other things. Then you sit on them and put extra pressure on them. Sooner or later, something is bound to break. But how exactly do you repair a back pocket? With a nice patch, of course! If you need to do it quickly, opt for a self-adhesive patch, like the sequin patch we use. If you want to play it safe, then definitely choose an iron-on patch. It will certainly hold better. If you don't want to take any risks, then repair the back pocket with a sew-on patch. This will reinforce the back pocket so that it is more robust than before.

You can also find more DIY ideas for sustainable fashion choices on our #RethinkFashion blog. Find out, for example, how to shorten a pair of trousers or how to wash your clothes gently with Dylon detergent.

One of the most common problems with fast-fashion jeans is that they are difficult to repair yourself if you don't know how to sew. Having a zipper replaced is an expensive affair. But with this super simple tip, you can repair the zipper on your jeans yourself in no time at all:

• Thread a rubber band, hair band or even a paper clip through the zipper slider and then wrap it or them around the button. Et voilà! Open pants are a thing of the past.

If you're pregnant or squeezing into a friend's pants, you can use the same simple elastic band trick. Simply push one half of the elastic through the buttonhole, pull one loop over the other and pull it tight. Now you can put the remaining loop around the button. Just wear a longer top that covers your waist and no one will ever know.

A frayed hem, just like a broken zipper, is not uncommon on a pair of jeans and just as hard to fix if you don't know where to start. Luckily, you have fashion on your side. A high-low fringe is in right now. This is your chance to put this great DIY idea into practice:

• Simply cut off the worn hem and cut it at ankle height at the front. Then fringe the hem. You'll get the best result once you've washed your jeans.

The back pockets of your jeans don't have it easy. They have to carry your wallet, cell phone and all sorts of other things. Then you sit on them and put extra pressure on them. Sooner or later, something is bound to break. But how exactly do you repair a back pocket? Well, with a nice patch of course!

• If it has to be done quickly: Opt for a self-adhesive patch, such as the sequin patch we use.
• If you want to be on the safe side: Definitely choose an iron-on patch. It will certainly hold better.
• Don't want to take any risks? Then you can patch your jeans back pocket by using a sew-on patch. This will reinforce the back pocket so that it is more robust than before.

Incidentally, you can also use this trick if you have noticed a hole in your jeans and want to repair it. Is a patch on the outside too conspicuous? Then you can patch your jeans by attaching it to the inside.

3 problems – 3 solutions. Sometimes it's really easy to repair your own jeans, isn't it? Do you have any other clothes in your closet that could do with a little repair or two? In another post, we'll show you how to repair a dress and mend a sweater in just a few simple steps. Also quick and easy!