Jamie Brooks
Repairing is the New Cool:
How a Patagonia Seamstress is Redefining Sustainability
For 25-year-old Jamie Brooks, repairing clothes isn’t just a craft.
it’s a way to heal wounds, honour memories, and reconnect
people with nature. Inspired by his late father and driven by
Patagonia’s mission, Jamie’s story is part of a movement to
celebrate sustainability and the stories our gear carries.
The hum of a sewing machine fills the air, harmonising with the
earthy smell of worn fabric. At a small workstation in the
Patagonia repair workshop in North London, Jamie Brooks
carefully threads a needle through the tear of a worn jacket. For
Jamie, this isn’t just about repairing clothes – it’s about weaving
together stories. “Every tear, every hole, carries a memory,” he
says, running his fingers along the muted fabric. “Fixing them
means that those memories stay alive”.
“Every tear, every hole, carries a memory”
” he
says, running his fingers along the muted fabric.
“Fixing them means that those memories stay alive”
“I attribute my career to him”
Jamie’s journey began longbefore he joined Patagonia.
Hailing from North-West Wales, he spent hours in the countryside as a child hiking with his father, a local tailor who was revered for his skills. “I attribute my career to him,” Jamie says. When his father passed away, Jamie followed in his footsteps to support his family. Over time, that need grew into a passion for seamstressing and creating clothes, a way to both survive and stay connected to his father’s legacy. Jamie’s journey to Patagonia was deeply personal. Growing up, he would spend his time outside school exploring the Welsh
countryside with his father, a tailor who believed every piece of
clothing had a story worth conserving. “Growing up, we didn’t
have a lot of money, so after our hikes, my dad would always mend my ripped clothes, Jamie remembers. “These tears are evidence of the adventures we had – they are our memories,” he
used to say. Jamie started restoring clothing after his father passed, not only to help his family but also to honour his memory
The repair shop feels like his sanctuary. Amid the quiet hum of sewing machines and the soft clatter of tools, Jamie feels a sense of purpose. “There’s something special about this process,” he says. Just one of many meaningful moments came when a hiker brought a jacket that was torn during his hike in Mount Kilimanjaro. “I thought wow, my dad always told me that we would go there one day” Jamie recalled.
To Jamie, repairing isn’t just about sustainability – it’s a form of healing. “I always feel proud after each item I repair, it goes to show that we can mend things, whether its gear or ourselves” he says. Patagonia’s mission of reusing and repurposing clothing resonates with his own values, offering him a chance to turn his craft into something bigger than himself. Beyond the shop, Jamie dreams of inspiring others to embrace the idea that their belongings – and their memories – are worth saving. “When people pick up their repaired gear, you can see the
excitement in their eyes. It’s not just about the item. It’s about
getting back outside and making even more memories,” he says.
For Jamie, every repair is an invitation for someone to reconnect
with the world around them.
As the day winds down in the repair shop, Jamie threads the final stitch on a faded jacket, smiling at the thought of it heading back into the wild. Through his work, Jamie has found a way to honor his past while inspiring others to cherish the world around them. “Repairing isn’t just about being sustainable. It’s about reminding us that what’s broken can still be beautiful,” he reflects. With every stitch, Jamie sees not just the possibility of mending clothes but the potential to heal, one adventure at a time.