why repairing is the most radical thing you can do

Why Repairing is the Most Radical Thing You Can Do

In a world obsessed with the new, choosing to repair is a quiet act of rebellion.

We believe every stitch tells a story. Repairing your gear isn't just about mending fabric, it's about honouring the journey, the memories, and the commitment to a more sustainable future. It’s about asking better questions: Do I really need another hoodie? Or do I just need to fix the one that already holds a hundred road trips in its seams?

The Culture of Disposability

Fast fashion has trained us to treat clothing like tissue, cheap, fleeting, forgettable. According to the Australian Fashion Council, around 227,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in Australian landfills each year. Only 7,000 tonnes are recycled. And more than 100,000 tonnes of unsellable second-hand clothing is exported overseas annually.

Globally, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is created each year, and that number is projected to hit 134 million tonnes by 2030. The fashion industry also accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined. It’s a system built on overproduction, overconsumption, and intentional obsolescence.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Embracing the Art of Repair

Repairing is more than a fix, it’s a mindset. When you choose to repair:

• You extend the life of your gear: Wearing a garment just nine months longer can reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints by 20-30%.

• You reduce demand on resources: Less production means fewer emissions, less water usage, and reduced landfill.

• You deepen connection: Every visible mend becomes part of the garment’s story, not something to hide. The stitches become badges, not of wear, but of care.

Wolf Bear’s Commitment to Repair

This isn’t marketing, it’s our mission.

Our Good Gear Guarantee™ backs every piece of Wolf Bear gear for life. If it rips, fades, or fails, we fix it. And if you’re ready to part ways, our Rewild Program buys it back for 25% of the original price.

We clean it up, stitch it up, and pass it on. If it’s beyond repair, we break it down and re-spin it into our Rewild Tees. Nothing to landfill. Nothing wasted.

But to be clear: this isn’t about selling more. We’re not here to tell you that you need more gear. We're here to make sure that what you already have can keep going. Because that’s the right thing to do.

Repair as Resistance

Repairing gear is resisting waste. It's a protest against profit-first design. It's a stand for longevity, craft, and the wild places we love.

It’s choosing to hold onto what works, what’s weathered with you, what still has miles left in it. It’s refusing to participate in a cycle that burns through resources and discards the result. And it’s damn satisfying too, sewing something back together with your own hands.

Take the First Stitch

You don’t need to be perfect with a needle. You just need to start. Patch that rip. Reinforce that seam. Email us if you’re stuck. We’ll guide you through it.

Because repairing isn’t just practical, it’s radical.

Stay wild, stay stitched.
 - Harry & Ness
Wolf Bear Collective

References:

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2017). A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future.

• Australian Fashion Council via ABC News. (2023). 227,000 tonnes of clothing sent to landfill in Australia annually; only 7,000 tonnes recycled.

• World Economic Forum. (2021). Fast fashion’s environmental impact.

• WRAP UK. (2012). Valuing our clothes: the true cost of how we design, use and dispose of clothing.