Table of Contents
Smaller carbon footprint #
- Altering an existing garment uses up to 85 % less CO₂ than manufacturing a new one (Source: WRAP UK textile impact study).
- Tailor’s machines run minutes, not the hours of industrial cutting, sewing, finishing, and global shipping.
Huge water savings #
- A single pair of new jeans consumes roughly 7,000 L of water from cotton field to finishing.
- Hemming or tapering those jeans uses only the water in a steam iron—measured in millilitres.
Landfill reduction #
- The average UK resident discards 3.1 kg of textiles each year.
- Extending wear by just nine months cuts a garment’s landfill footprint by 20–30 %.
Less chemical waste #
- No fresh dye baths, bleaching, or fabric treatments are needed when you keep what you already own.
- Tailors use thread, not toxins.
Direct cost savings #
- Most iSeam.uk alterations cost 20–40 % of a comparable new item.
- Better fit means you actually wear the piece—unlike “aspirational” sale buys that linger unworn.
Supports local skills #
- Every alteration order funds independent UK tailors rather than overseas mass-production.
- Keeps traditional sewing expertise alive and creates flexible jobs.
Quick eco checklist before buying new #
- Can a hem raise, waist nip, or zip swap fix it?
- Will you wear it at least 30 more times after alteration?
- Is repair cheaper than replacing with equal quality?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these, altering wins—for your wallet and the planet.
