REPAIR WHAT YOU WEAR
The average American throws away about 81.5 pounds of clothes every year, and we’re all spoiled by how easily garments can be replaced. While there’s nothing wrong with a wardrobe refresh (see page 44 to browse styles we love) and donating or selling to thrift shops is a hot option (on page 54, you’ll read about the popularity of “thrifting”), there’s also much to be said for rehabilitating a favorite garment so that you can continue to wear it—and love it. So before you toss the sweater with the hole in the sleeve, consider these tips: • Don’t knock glue. Fabric glue can be a lifesaver in a pinch, particularly for unraveling hems or stubborn synthetic fabric that rejects a needle and thread. Don’t dismiss your mother’s old tricks, either—iron-on hem tape is particularly effective on cotton, wool and denim and can save a pair of jeans. (Iron-on patches can also be colorful and fun!) For fixing small holes, consider the iron-activated “fusible bonding web,” which can bond two layers of fabric together in a jiff. • Thread a needle. Mending holes or re-attaching buttons doesn’t require immense skill. For instance, if a favorite sweater gets caught in your earring or necklace and you pull a snag, you can use the eye of a large needle to pick up the yarn sticking out and tuck it back into the garment, and simple darning for socks and sweaters is less sewing and more weaving a fabric patch over the hole with your thread. A total beginner? Twice a month the shop Bayou of Saddle River (bayouofsaddleriver.com) gathers people of all levels working on needle projects, and they share wisdom. • Consult an expert. Is it time to turn to a pro? Thankfully, Bergen has many options—and these experts also can alter a garment to new measurements or tastes. Giorgio’s Tailoring (73 Park Ave., Park Ridge, 201.746.6500; giorgiostailoring. com) has more than 30 years’ experience doing alterations and repairs, and Ani’s Tailoring (100 Midland Ave., River Edge, 201.599.0830) is known for a detail-oriented eye. If it’s your shoes that give you trouble, consider Bill’s Shoe Repair (658 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, 201.493.1011; billsshoerepair.com) or Quality Shoe Repair (18 Oak St., Ridgewood, 201.445.5811; qualityshoerepair.weebly.com).
YOUR GARMENTS’ NEXT LIFE
PUPPY LOVE
So you’re ready to part with some clothes—how do you make sure they’ll be put to good use? Consider donating to a community closet. These initiatives, including the three below, offer free or low-cost clothing to those in need, often targeting a specific population. • Bergen Community College’s Bergen Threads. Local college students who may be struggling will find many options both personal and professional here, from suits to shoes to accessories. Always particularly needed: pants and T-shirts. —400 Paramus Rd., first floor, Paramus, 201.879.7074; bergen.edu • Families for Families Clothing Closet. Local families with children in need can browse and choose the clothes they need in an environment that feels like a shopping trip. Desired: items in any size for men, women and children. —250 Braen Ave., Wyckoff, 201.499.5622; families4families.com • The Women’s Rights Information Center’s Career Closet. Aiming to prepare women to enter the workforce with confidence, this establishment offers free clothing appropriate for job interviews and business settings. —108 West Palisade Ave., Englewood, 201.568.1166; womensrights.org
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Dog: Brady, 5-year-old goldendoodle Owner: Katherine Martinelli of Hackensack Moving into your first apartment is exciting, but doing so during the pandemic quickly became a lonely experience. So in 2021 Martinelli decided to bring a puppy into her home. “I always wanted a dog of my own and I was working from home, so the timing was right,” she says. She fostered and eventually adopted Brady (who’s named after the former New England Patriots star) through a Rockland County, N.Y., rescue group, and the pup and “parent” have been inseparable ever since. “He’s my little shadow,” Mama reports. “He follows me from room to room in the apartment and always sits next to me and has to lean against me.” When Brady’s not by his mother’s side or playing with his plush squirrel and Kong toys, he can be found strolling with his owner along the Hackensack River walkway and making new furry friends (and picking out new toys) at the local Petco. “He’s such a character at the pet store,” Martinelli says. “He sees the New York Giants pet costumes and barks at them like he wants one. I guess despite his name he wants to be a Giants fan.” Want to see your pet in an upcoming issue? Email a photo and details of your furry friend to Editor Rita Guarna at rita.guarna@ wainscotmedia.com.
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MARCH 2026
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