STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Got holes?

The Patagonia mobile repair shop is in Sun Valley for a Worn Wear Mountain Party from noon to 5 p.m. today and Sunday, Jan. 28.

A handful of Patagonia Worn Wear ambassadors did a brisk business on Friday outside Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports in Sun Valley Village as they repaired and patched rain pants that had been torn on brush, down jackets with compromised baffles and jackets where the zippers had been destroyed.

It didn’t matter if the clothes were Patagonia or some other brand—the team was intent on keeping the worn wear cycle in motion to avoid landfills.

“Our motto is, ‘If it’s broke, fix it!’” said Brandon Richards, as he sawed wood to feed the small wood stove inside mobile repair shop.

Patagonia’s Worn Wear Repair Team had its genesis in a blog started four years ago by a couple of Patagonia ambassadors. Today two teams travel the back roads of America five months a year in gypsy-like wagons dubbed Uncle Dave and Delia.

It’s a novel idea in an age where it’s so easy to dispose of something that has a thread out of place.

But so appreciated by those who see a memory in each scruff and tear. Or, those who just can’t bring themselves to throw away the favorite jacket, no matter how ratty.

The Worn Wear Repair Team never knows what they’re going to get. One woman brought two Patagonia sleeping bag liners in need of attention. Others bring in jackets with hoods that need a cord replaced, puff jackets with loose stitching, khaki pants and Patagonia waders with holes, sweaters with pilling and day packs that have been ripped.

One woman’s down vest had been shredded with shards of glass during a car accident.

“We had a repair job in Jackson last week where the man had been severely injured and had his clothes cut off, and he was so happy to have them repaired,” said Ducote. “They won’t look brand new, but they will be a conversation piece.”

Kathryn Graves presented Ducote with her powder blue jacket and her husband’s red jacket, both of which were frayed at the sleeves.

“We don’t care what it looks like. There’s still a lot of good use we can get out of them,” she said.

Claire Beaumont, a professional seamstress, joined this tour from her home on Bainbridge Island, Wash.

The most common repairs, she said, involve battles of down jackets and patching holes in jeans.

In addition to repairing the jackets and pants brought her, she suggests ways people can take care of the clothes they own.

Claire Beaumont is a professional seamstress who joined the tour from her home in Bainbridge Island, Wash.

The most common repairs, she said, involve repairing the battles of down jackets and patching holes in jeans.

In addition to repairing the jackets and pants brought her, Beaumont suggests ways people can take care of the clothes they own.

“It sounds counterproductive but just washing a jacket helps keep it waterproof and stain repellant because you’re getting rid of the skin oils and dirt,” she said. “Every once in awhile, of course, you want to add a water repellent, such as Granger’s, to the wash.”

Got a separated zipper? Replace the zipper slider, rather than the entire zipper. Did an ember burn a hole in the jacket? Fix it with Tenacious Tape, a stronger-than-duct tape gear aid that comes in the form of guitars, animals, fish, whales, circles and rectangles.

Those who want practice can start immediately on one of dozens of jackets the repair team brought with them.

“Repair it and it’s yours,” said Ducote. “All we ask is that you make a donation to POW (Protect Our Winters), which is a climate change advocacy group working on the behalf of skiers and snowboarders everywhere.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Trade Patagonia wear in at any Patagonia retail location and receive credit towards a new or used garment.