A hole in your favorite sweater, a loose seam, or a pair of pants that needs a small repair? Bring it along when you’re in Amsterdam. In the middle of Kalverstraat, there’s a Repair Café where you can have small clothing repairs performed for free every Wednesday afternoon. And this great initiative has been extended due to its success!
Free clothing repair in the heart of Amsterdam
You need to know where to be, because from the Kalverstraat you can walk right past it. The Repair Café is located on the first floor of La Place at Kalverstraat 201-203. Every Wednesday between 12:00 and 17:00 you can come in and bring in a garment that needs repairing. You fill out an online form on the spot. Designers Habib and Honor from Creator Holy carry out the repairs. You can bring one garment per person and small repairs of up to fifteen minutes are free. For larger repairs, you discuss directly with the designers what is possible, how much it costs, and when it will be ready. You pick up your garment the following week.
Behind the sewing machines is also a social story
And then this place becomes even more fun for us. Habib and Honor not only repair and upcycle clothes. They also create unique handmade items. Creator Holy The brothers give old clothes and materials a new life. They are also involved in The BAM Collective, The BAM Collective is a collective of artisans and artists with roots all over the world. The creators develop their own products and art projects, exhibit their work, and can earn money from it. The BAM Collective emerged from The DOOR Project, That wants to create new opportunities for refugees and other people who are building a new life in the Netherlands through art, design and entrepreneurship.
And while you’re there: be sure to check out the clothes rack featuring the upcycled jackets from Creator Holy. Habib and Honor transform old clothes and materials into unique pieces. Some of them are more like works of art than jackets. You’ll want to linger just to see them all.
The social nature is also reflected in the Repair Café itself. You not only donate a garment there, but you can also meet the makers, see their work, and have a chat with them.
Repair instead of replacing
We are of course fans of this kind of initiative. A hole, a loose seam, or another minor flaw doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a garment. Sometimes a quarter of an hour behind the sewing machine is enough to ensure that you can wear something for much longer. And for that, you don’t even have to leave the shopping street! In the video, we show you where this somewhat hidden circular spot is and take a look at the garment repairs. So, do you have a garment that could use some love? Don’t throw it away: bring it to the Kalverstraat!
You might also find this interesting
- Also see: Quickly repair the store hook in clothing.
- Also see: Sashiko mending: repairing a large hole in a garment with a piece of fabric.
- Also see: Thrift shopping at The Swap Shop in Amsterdam.
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
