Image via Complex Original
There are plenty of DIY style hacks you can master in order to save some money. Still, there are times where the damage can be so severe, not even your YouTube-instructional video skills can save your hard worn items. It's easy to simply toss away an old jacket or a pair of boots in exchange for something new, but why get rid of something when a simple fix can make it useful again. Plus, after all those years of wear, they probably hold some sort of sentimental value. Maybe they were passed down to you, maybe it’s your favorite pair, or just maybe you don’t want to toss out that well-worn look you’ve tried so hard to perfect.
There are brands out there that will breathe new life into your boots, jackets, or jeans for free or a small cost. Wear and tear is normal for any piece of clothing, and you would be hard pressed to find a brand that will cover standard damages at no price—it depends on the brand’s policies. However, pieces that have slipped through the quality control cracks, which included defective materials and poor workmanship, will almost always get fixed for free.
Everyone spews high quality products and customer service these days, but we’ve cut through all the talk and provided you with brands that actually back it up. Here are 11 Brands That Offer In-House Repairs.
RELATED: How to Know When Your Terrible Style Needs an Upgrade
RELATED: How to Easily Ruin a Good Outfit
Barbour
Website: http://www.barbour.com/us/
A Barbour jacket is a must-have outdoor essential every man should have in his closet. These waxed wonders never get old, but, from time to time, do get damaged. Rips, re-proofing, new collars, and even shortening the length of your jacket are all services the brand will fix for you. If you see a jacket on eBay with a perfect well-worn look and but a small tear, cop it for a low price, and send the jacket in for some mending. You just saved money on both ends.
Flint and Tinder
Website: http://www.flintandtinderusa.com/
Flint and Tinder’s Kickstarter page caught fire when it announced it’s 10-Year Hoodie. Can you say $1 million plus in funds raised? Constructed from premium quality materials intended to last at least a decade, it’s the kind of sweater your girlfriend would steal. And if you think some amateur brand on Kickstarter doesn’t know about quality, give the 10-year hoodie a try, because the brand backs up its claims with free mending for a decade.
Self Edge
Website: http://www.selfedge.com/
Hardcore denim lovers know all too well about the damage that comes later in the life of their expensive jeans. Every guy has experienced at least of of these problems: crotch blowouts, pocket holes, and knee tears. Lucky for you, there are solutions to fix these damages.
Self Edge offers a full repair service that handles just about anything. If it's denim, they will fix it for you. The price is a $40 dollar flat rate, but if you bought it at Self Edge, knock that price down to $20. Sorry, no mail-ins. You must bring in your clothes to the shops in San Francisco or New York City cleaned (can't stress this enough) and ready for repair.
GoRuck
Website: https://www.goruck.com/
If you're making bags that meet Special Forces and Green Beret standards, they have to be tough as shit. On the other hand, these bags often find themselves in dangerous situations, and battle damage usually comes with living life on the edge. To help out with these, GoRuck has a program called Scars Repairs. If your bag has "scars earned under our standards of abuse," the brand will happily stitch your bag up. This means if your bag got shot, dragged, beaten with a bat, and/or set ablaze, GoRuck will take care of it. Armed Forces members get fixed free of charge. Sorry civilians, you have to pay, but not much.
Patagonia
Website: http://www.patagonia.com/
The premier outdoor company has been privately owned since 1973 and is still doing fine on its own. If you’ve owned some of Patagonia's famous pile jackets or its serious ski gear, then you know how well they're made. But if there is ever an instance where you need to get a piece fixed, you'll be taken care of. “We pay for repairs that we’re responsible for and charge a fair price for repairs due to normal wear and tear,” reads the brand's website. If a ski lift tore open your jacket during one of your trips, the brand can patch that back up no problem.
Red Wing
Website: http://www.redwingshoes.com/
Red Wing boots are built tough enough to survive the grueling jobs that industrial worker-types put them through. They will last, but they won’t last forever. That’s unless you take care of them. If you’ve beaten your boots up to a pulp, send them back to Red Wing and the Minnesota-based company will re-sole and re-stitch the leather to make your shoes look like new again. The price is a mere $95 to get you stomping on your favorite boots again—much better than paying $200-plus for a new pair. And you get to keep the worn-in look of your favorite boots.
Filson
Website: http://www.filson.com/
Filson products are under a lifetime warranty. While its services like Odor Removal and Re-Proofing can start around $30, sometimes there are damages they will fix for free. Filson doesn’t really disclose how it assesses damage, but customers have reported receiving estimates to a fix a small tear at no cost. It’s hit or miss really, but if you do end up paying, the price will definitely be reasonable and worth it.
Quoddy
Website: http://www.quoddy.com/
Quoddy was just a small Maine-based moccasin maker until the whole Americana style blew up all over the Internet and made it a go-to brand for the urban woodsman-set. It has actually been making shoes since before many of us were born, and is super proud of its heritage. So if there are ever any quality control issues with any products, the brand will back you up free of charge. If you want further repairs such as resoling, new wraps, or laces, send your shoes in and they will give you an estimate on the cost for repair or replacement.
Russell Moccasin
Website: http://www.russellmoccasin.com/
Moccassins look simple but in reality, the style is tricky to work with for the cobblers who replace hard bottoms for a living. Russell Moccasin knows all about this and offers its services if your rugged boots ever needed an upgrade. If you want to see an example of the good work they do, just peep the before and after images of a pair of hard worn boots above turned to look brand spanking new again. Prices start at $18 for refurbishing and can go as high as $110 if your boots look really worn out.
L.L. Bean
Website: http://www.llbean.com/
Since 1912, L.L. Bean has probably had plenty of requests from customers to fix their favorite hunting boots or fishing jacket. And they have one such repair program to cure your apparel problems. If a bear went H.A.M on your equipment during your last camping trip, send it in to L.L. Bean. The brand will fix your shoes, jackets, or tents, and the repair team will make sure you will be able to pass it down to younger generations to use.
Duluth Pack
Website: http://duluthpack.com/
Duluth Pack makes some of the sturdiest packs around. If you want an old school style rucksack made of canvas and leather, this Minnesota-based company should be your first stop. The gear is proudly made in the USA and the label stands by the quality its bags so much there is a lifetime guarantee on the products. If you've managed to damage the sewing or hardware on any of these bags, send it back to Minnesota and they will fix it for you for free. It's rare to tear a hole in these things, but it happens.