Green Living

The Story of Stuff just goes to show how unfamiliar reuse can be in a society of obsolescence. But with the economic tide-shift, I imagine more people are getting creative and reusing rather than restocking.

My husband/housemate recently got a dear pair of Campers he’d been tromping in for six year resoled (= 30 bucks for essentially a new pair). And I am notorious for getting clothing altered instead of passing it by in a thrift store or giving it away when the fit goes funky.  The seamstress down the street who alters my clothes is my go-to person not just for her sewing know how but for her large spirit-I’ve seen her mend winter jackets for people who don’t have money to pay on a number of occasions.

So, what is it wise to repair? Shoes can be resoled, their heels replaced, clothes can be altered and patched, their zippers fixed, purses and luggage can be sewn up, wood furniture can be revived and repaired, couches can be recovered, and watches and jewelry coaxed into working order.

As for appliances, you may be able to have your computer or phone refurbished or have a tinkerer get your small appliances to work.  On a whole though, if it’s an energy sucker like a fridge or water heater, you probably want to recycle the old clunker in favor of a new energy-efficient number. (More on making that call here.)

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Here are a few ydt alteration favorites in case you don’t own or don’t know how to use a sewing machine yourself (for shame for a threader!):

Abaya Clothing Alterations at 3233 W. Sunset Blvd. L.A. 90026. Phone: (323) 913 – 9419.

Alex Tailor at 7702 Melrose Ave.(near Fairfax High) L.A. 90036. Phone: (323) 658 – 6023.

Denim Doctor at 7383 Beverly Blvd. L.A. 90036. Phone: (323) 964 – 0080.

La Gondola Shoe Repair at 2929 W. Sunset Blvd. L.A. 90026. Phone: (323) 661 – 0148.

Paragon Dry Cleaners & Laundry is a green cleaners at 1310  Vine St. L.A. 90028. Phone: (323) 465 – 4633.

Same goes for San Fair Cleaners and Laundry at 7877 Santa Monica Blvd. (next to the Whole Foods in WeHo) L.A. 90046. Phone: (323) 654 – 3852.

Zinke’s Shoe Repair at 592 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena 91101. Phone: (626) 793 – 5790.

And don’t forget Patagonia’s Common Threads recycling program-there’s a company that knows the meaning of reuse.

Tags: alterations los angeles, green living Tuesday, repairing things, Reuse, sewing, shoe repair los angeles, The Story of Stuff