Chicago Fair Trade Museum

Mend in Public Day! Join the Conscious Closet Club and stitch in protest against disposable fashion during Fashion Revolution.

Did you know there’s already enough clothing on the planet to dress the next six generations? One of the simplest but most powerful ways to push back against fashion waste—and save money—is extending the life of the clothes you already own and love.

Join Conscious Closet Club at the Chicago Fair Trade Museum for a special session of Mend with Friends as part of Fashion Revolution. Together, we’ll stitch, chat, and take collective action during Mend in Public Day, an initiative of the world’s largest fashion activism movement, Fashion Revolution. Established in 2013 following the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, Fashion Revolution campaigns for a sustainable, transparent, and fair fashion industry free of worker and environmental exploitation.

This event blends thoughtful conversation about ethical fashion with a hands‑on mending workshop for all skill levels. Whether you’re patching a beloved sweater, replacing a popped pants button, or just want to build your clothing repair skills, you’ll find a welcoming circle of fellow Fashion Revolutionaries.

Bring a favorite garment or two that needs a fix and get stitching, or just come for community, conversation, and fair trade snacks. We'll have supplies and mending mentors on hand to help with your project. You can check out our Fast Fashion exhibit if you haven't already!

What is Mend in Public Day?

Mend in Public Day is an annual day of creative resistance against disposable fashion. Across the world, people gather in public spaces to repair their clothes, spark conversations, and model a future where we make loved clothes last. By joining us, you’ll be part of a global movement reclaiming repair as an act of care, sustainability, and solidarity.

About Conscious Closet Club

An initiative of Chicago Fair Trade, Conscious Closet Club is a community of Chicagoans exploring ethical fashion in all its dimensions—from garment care and repair to labor rights and responsible consumption. Inspired by Elizabeth Cline’s book The Conscious Closet, the group shares resources, learns together, and supports one another in building wardrobes that reflect our values.

Chicago Fair Trade (CFT) is a nonprofit promoting fair trade—an alternative business model that uplifts workers, protects the planet, and challenges exploitative supply chains and corporate malpractice. Through education, advocacy, and the world’s first fair trade museum, CFT empowers Chicagoans to build a more just and sustainable world.