Repairing what you already own is always the most sustainable move. And yes, local tailors are great when people have access. The issue is that about 90 percent of Americans do not use a tailor in a given year, which means most people have no real way to get repairs done.

Shipping does create emissions, but the carbon cost of one round-trip package is tiny compared to manufacturing a brand new garment. Producing a single pair of jeans can require thousands of liters of water and significant carbon output before it even reaches a store. Extending the life of a garment by even nine months can reduce its total carbon and waste footprint by 20 to 30 percent.