3 ms·

> perhaps because licensing costs too much to make it profitable, licensing isn't permitted for street vendors, varying climate doesn't make it as easy year-rou

> perhaps because licensing costs too much to make it profitable, licensing isn't permitted for street vendors, varying climate doesn't make it as easy year-round, or ... I'm not sure that someone would be able to make a living in the US repairing everyday imported clothing items. The few times I tried to get something repaired by a tailor stop in the US, the cost at US wages was a significant fraction of what it would cost to buy a brand new replacement (made overseas at much lower wages). Admittedly, those were complicated repairs, but everyday clothing is just so cheap (in price and quality) that repairing it doesn't make sense.

rukuu001 11y ago
> the cost at US wages was a significant fraction of what it would cost to buy a brand new replacement This is why I get the highest-quality stuff I can and repair it. Instead of replacing mediocre things every year or two, I have a few superb things that I spend $100-$200 a year maintaining (total, not each).
- lmm 11y ago
  I'd be surprised if that ends up cheaper once you take into account the inconvenience of arranging repairs.
  - Tepix 11y ago
    If you factor in the cost for the environment, absolutely!
    - maxerickson 11y ago
      I wonder if the drive to the shop has a higher environmental cost than a new shirt.
  - jschwartzi 11y ago
    It absolutely does. Four years ago I replaced a cheap stamped-steel chef's knife bought for 20.00 with a forged knife bought for 100. I have to keep it sharp and hone the edge, but so far I haven't had to replace it, and it's not even showing signs of wear. Buying expensive cooking tools is definitely cheaper over time than buying whatever crap gets stocked at the grocery store.
    - jmagoon 11y ago
      Totally the case with cookware. The difference in quality between my $60 cutting board and my $5 cutting board is incredible. The $5 one has already been trashed, while I've had the $60 one for 7 years now and it's still going strong. Same for a Creuset that was gifted to me. There's a good chance I'll be able to pass it on to my children, just like my parents passed on their high quality ceramic crockpot to me. Forged knives, copper pots, real sheet pans (not the flimsy quarter inch crap sold at walmart), etc. are all things that last almost forever, even with repeated, high use. You can see why restaurant kitchens almost always go for high quality--the parable of the workingman's boots.
ghaff 11y ago
It won't be $1, but once every year or so I routinely take a handful of items down to a local cleaner to fix/replace zippers, repair a split seam etc. The cost tends toward $5 or so per item. (More for things like zippers.) It's certainly economical if the clothing is otherwise in decent shape. Doing a button myself takes a few minutes--however long I procrastinate about it :-) I agree the overall economics of having clothing repaired isn't as attractive as it was 20 years ago. But it can still work--especially for more utilitarian and better-made gear.

rukuu001 11y ago

> the cost at US wages was a significant fraction of what it would cost to buy a brand new replacement This is why I get the highest-quality stuff I can and repair it. Instead of replacing mediocre things every year or two, I have a few superb things that I spend $100-$200 a year maintaining (total, not each).

lmm 11y ago
I'd be surprised if that ends up cheaper once you take into account the inconvenience of arranging repairs.
- Tepix 11y ago
  If you factor in the cost for the environment, absolutely!
  - maxerickson 11y ago
    I wonder if the drive to the shop has a higher environmental cost than a new shirt.
- jschwartzi 11y ago
  It absolutely does. Four years ago I replaced a cheap stamped-steel chef's knife bought for 20.00 with a forged knife bought for 100. I have to keep it sharp and hone the edge, but so far I haven't had to replace it, and it's not even showing signs of wear. Buying expensive cooking tools is definitely cheaper over time than buying whatever crap gets stocked at the grocery store.
  - jmagoon 11y ago
    Totally the case with cookware. The difference in quality between my $60 cutting board and my $5 cutting board is incredible. The $5 one has already been trashed, while I've had the $60 one for 7 years now and it's still going strong. Same for a Creuset that was gifted to me. There's a good chance I'll be able to pass it on to my children, just like my parents passed on their high quality ceramic crockpot to me. Forged knives, copper pots, real sheet pans (not the flimsy quarter inch crap sold at walmart), etc. are all things that last almost forever, even with repeated, high use. You can see why restaurant kitchens almost always go for high quality--the parable of the workingman's boots.

ghaff 11y ago

It won't be $1, but once every year or so I routinely take a handful of items down to a local cleaner to fix/replace zippers, repair a split seam etc. The cost tends toward $5 or so per item. (More for things like zippers.) It's certainly economical if the clothing is otherwise in decent shape. Doing a button myself takes a few minutes--however long I procrastinate about it :-) I agree the overall economics of having clothing repaired isn't as attractive as it was 20 years ago. But it can still work--especially for more utilitarian and better-made gear.