“It’s been a long day, but I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it anywhere else.” This sentiment was expressed on Instagram five years ago by Layla Sargent, founder of The Seam, long prior to securing funding for her vision.
Before moving to London, Layla’s clothes were often altered and mended by her grandmother, who had over 60 years of professional tailoring experience. After leaving her grandmother’s home, Layla realized how difficult it was to find a skilled maker locally to care for her clothing.
She believes in the idea of repairing for the future, powered by technology and local skills. “When you’re trying to change behaviors, accessibility is everything.”
In 2019, Layla established The Seam, merging technology with local makers online. Her goal was to make it easier for everyone to access clothing repair services.
The demand for mending in London has been surprisingly strong. Beyond creative visible mending—where repairs are showcased—many customers seek invisible mending to refresh their high-value garments. Numerous fashion brands have begun to offer repair services, collaborating with artisans and tailors to promote sustainable fashion. Major retailers like Selfridges, Browns Fashion, Farfetch, Harvey Nichols, and Harrods have partnered with various repair brands to enhance their after-sales services. The Seam has become a designated repair partner for brands like Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter, Veja, COS, and Adidas.
The Seam 的維修種類繁多，包括毛衣修補、衣物改造、皮鞋、手袋及首飾維修等等，想得到的都有，因為她們透過網絡平台從英國的不同城市招募各種類別、主流或偏門的 makers，現在加起來已有八、九十人了。
The Seam offers a wide range of repair services, including sweater mending, clothing alterations, and repairs for shoes, bags, and jewelry. They have recruited around 80 to 90 makers from different cities across the UK through their online platform.
Head of makers, is Lollo Waern, she grew up listening to captivating stories from her mother about working in London. Inspired, she moved from Sweden to London in 2012 to study fashion design. Having paid expensive tuition, she realized that she didn’t want to pursue a career in fashion due to its environmental impact, she found a perfect match in Layla. “This is a fulfilling job!” Lollo says, describing her role in reaching out to makers, meeting them in person, coordinating customer orders, and managing their work. Sometimes, she even visits makers directly and organizes workshops for skill exchanges. She handles everything with remarkable efficiency. “One of the most memorable experiences involved sourcing three different makers to repair a unique Alexander McQueen shirt that looked knitted but wasn’t. Thankfully, the customer was patient and ultimately very satisfied!”
Camille Thiery, who moved to London from Paris, continues her mother’s legacy in garment creation. Self-taught in operating her mother’s sewing machine, she has been crafting and repairing clothes for a decade, finding joy in both machine and hand embroidery. For her, each project is a unique experience, and she emphasizes that true sustainable fashion must take account energy consumption and ecological balance while using natural materials and recycling.
Layla 期待 The Seam 服務擴展到她的家鄉伯明翰，這樣她就可以讓祖母在她的平台上註冊成為 maker 了。
Research by the international waste charity WRAP indicates that extending the lifespan of a garment by just nine months can reduce its carbon footprint, waste, and water usage by 20% to 30%. This highlights how even small efforts in clothing repair can significantly benefit the planet.
Layla hopes to expand The Seam’s services to her hometown of Birmingham, where she envisions her grandmother registering as a maker on her platform.
