👖 Mending Magic
A few months ago, I stumbled upon Helen’s Instagram page and was instantly intrigued. She mends clothing for a living—which honestly feels so rare nowadays, especially coming from someone so young! I knew I had to learn more!
Helen is originally from Ontario but now lives in Montreal. Once a week, she sits at a local zero-waste store called Épicerie Loco, where customers bring her their well-loved, worn-out clothes to repair. I love that she’s helping people keep their garments in use for as long as possible instead of tossing them out. ✂️🧵
During our visit, she showed me some of the beautiful, functional products she makes herself—reusables that replace common disposables. She had:
A handmade Kleenex bag filled with reusable hankies
Reusable makeup rounds
A lunchbox she sewed from old bedsheets (!)
It was so inspiring to see how she turns scraps and discarded materials into everyday essentials.
One of my favorite moments was seeing a pair of jeans she had upcycled. She told me they were almost beyond saving—with tears in the crotch, butt crack, and more. But she worked her magic and turned them into wide-leg patchwork jeans that honestly looked like something you'd buy from a boutique. They were so cool!
She even had a quirky sweater with flies felted on it, using playful designs to cover up stains or blemishes. Her creativity really shines through every piece.
What struck me most was how deeply Helen lives her values. Her whole business is rooted in sustainability—extending the life of garments, minimizing waste, and encouraging people to care for what they already own. 💚
She has a steady stream of customers and lots of clothing waiting to be mended—which made me so happy to see. We need more Helens in the world!
If you’re local and need something repaired (or just want to support someone doing such thoughtful, intentional work), definitely check out her website:
👉 helenmends.ca
I left her space feeling inspired to appreciate my clothes even more—stains, holes, and all. With a little love (and maybe some thread), they’ve still got plenty of life left in them.
