I WANT TO GET A REPAIR, HOW DO I START THE PROCESS?
We accept repairs through an application process during open booking periods. When repair booking opens, my VIP email list will receive a link to the application a full 48hrs before the application is opened to the general public. Applying with your jean ensure that your pair is the right fit for our repairs. The purpose is not to turn down work or judge you but instead to pre-screen the jean and types of repairs needed so we can first make sure the jean is repairable in its current condition, and second to more accurately schedule the work in the queue. We want to make sure all jeans we receive get a beautiful and long lasting repair, and this screening allows us to ensure you’re getting the quality repair your jeans deserve- otherwise what are you paying us for?? So if you’d like a repair, sign up for the VIP list HERE for advance access. The application consists of a form you’ll fill out detailing your repair project and upload photos showing the damage on your jean. Each application is for one item, max of 2 individual entries per person. The list is emailed each time books open, so if you don’t want to continue receiving emails each open period you can leave the list at any time, and rejoin when you are ready for a repair again.
WHAT KIND OF PHOTOS DO I SUBMIT FOR THE APPLICATION?
I’ve created a helpful guide HERE on taking photos of your jeans for repair. Please read the entire article; if you submit photos that do not follow the guidelines I will have to decline your application. Use my guide to help you get your jeans accepted!
WHAT IF MY JEANS ARE NOT ACCEPTED DURING OPEN BOOKING?
If your jeans are not a good fit for a repair from us, you will receive an email letting you know why your application was declined. Limitations such as the current condition of the jean, if your jean has been repaired before in a way that is permanent, fabric content, amount of submissions of that kind or type of fabric/damage may be determining factors. If your jean has been repaired before (not by Indigo Proof) we want to be able to remove that repair to ensure you’re getting a quality repair, not just a band-aid that won’t last with wear. If your jeans have been darned heavily over the seams, there’s lots of layers of patches with darning over them, or the previous repairs have become so integrated into the jean removing them would cause way more damage, it’s possible your jean is not going to be a good fit for our repairs. The bottom line is: we’re a small operation and can’t always accept every jean unfortunately, even though we wish we could! Also, not every jean is a good candidate for our method of repair. Again, quality is number one, and if we can’t 100% ensure that on your pair, we’ll let you know! Also if you don’t follow the guidelines on your submission, don’t provide enough info, upload poor quality photos where we can’t see your jean accurately or if you exceed 2 submissions per person your application will be declined. We limit it to 2 submissions to give everyone a fair shot to apply- don’t hog the applications! We’ll reopen booking again so you can apply again with more pairs, don’t worry!
DO I HAVE TO WASH MY JEANS BEFORE SENDING THEM?
YES!!! You must machine wash your jeans with soap and water, and dry them completely before sending. If you don’t wash them often, you will probably need to wash them a few times to ensure they are clean enough for repair. When repairing we take apart seams by hand and darn fabric in very close proximity to our faces and hands, and if they are not clean it is unsanitary and very disrespectful to the person repairing your jeans. You can take care of your jeans however you want on your own, but before sending them in for any kind of repair it is absolutely necessary that your jeans are clean and freshly washed for the health and safety of your tailor and not to mention the quality of your repair.
If jeans submitted are not adequately clean, they will be washed for a fee added to your repair price, or in certain cases they will be returned to you and your order will be refunded minus shipping and handling.
WHY IS YOUR WASHING POLICY SO STRICT? IS IT CAUSE YOU’RE A JERK?
Nope, not just being a jerk! Beyond hygienic reasons for this policy, dirty denim actually does not repair as well as clean denim. On clean denim, darning sinks into the weave of the fibers resulting in a seamless repair that ages beautifully. On dirty denim, old sweat and grime caked up on the surface of the weave prevents the darning from sinking into the fabric, resulting in a repair that sits on top of that layer of grime. The dirt is then trapped inside the fabric, and the cotton will not be able to breathe, which causes premature breakage. So, repairing dirty jeans is actually a roundabout and costly way to accelerate the damage and kill your jeans.
If you’re unsure if your jeans are clean enough, either wash them again or have a friend smell them and let you know!
HOW WILL I KNOW HOW MUCH MY REPAIR WILL COST? HOW DOES YOUR PRICING WORK?
When accepted, you will receive a link to put down a repair deposit. The deposit per item is paid up front to initiate an order, ship to Indigo Proof, and to receive an evaluation. It is then used as a credit towards your full repair quote plus shipping.
Repairs are priced based on the work that needs to be done to restore your jeans. Please understand I cannot offer repair quotes via emailed photos. Prices are only quoted after a thorough in-hand evaluation. During evaluations I use my experience and expertise in repairing denim to look your jean over and find all areas in need of repair, reinforcement and replacement, when necessary. Hands-on evaluation allows me to determine the obvious areas needing repair AND the areas of the jean that need reinforcement. This ensures you’re getting the full value of my service and also helps to keep your jeans from needing new or further repairs shortly afterwards.
MORE ON PRICING:
We’re a very small operation, and every step of the process is done in-house. From massive reconstructions of blowouts to preventative maintenance, we take the time to repair things right for a truly high quality restoration. All repairs are done on a Singer 47w70 darning machine, and the fabric is rewoven and reinforced using thread - that means no bulky patches or crude heavy stitching. We especially love to blend thread colors to recreate unique faded denim patterns. Read more about the repair philosophy HERE!
If your damage is significant and your jeans need a lot of repairs or extreme repairs, the cost to repair your jeans can sometimes out-price the original cost of your jeans. Please do not email me telling me the repair is more than you paid for the jeans - I don’t care what you paid for them. Repair cost is based on the time and labor to repair your jeans, not what their original value is.
LET’S TALK CROTCH REPAIRS: HOW ARE INDIGO PROOF REPAIRS DIFFERENT?
We repair all 4 panels of the crotch, taking it apart at the seams to repair the fabric and then reassembling the area matching original construction techniques. All crotch repairs are 4-panel repairs, and start at $100+. Repair cost varies based on severity, placement and current condition of damage. If your crotch is starting to show signs of breaking down, start wearing them less! The more you wear your jeans with holes, the worse the holes will start to get. Please don’t continue to wear your jeans with major crotch holes - one sudden movement and your minor crotch damage may turn into a major crotch catastrophe! Repairing that situation will cost more than your standard crotch blowout.
WHY ISN’T SHIPPING FREE?
Shipping jeans, especially heavyweight and raw denim, is expensive, and operating a business is more than just sewing labor, so please understand that shipping and handling is not a negotiable cost. I use 2-3 day Priority Mail shipping with tracking to make sure your jeans arrive safely and quickly!
WHAT IF I DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR MY JEANS AFTER RECEIVING AN INVOICE?
In the event that you elect not to have your jeans repaired after receiving an invoice, your jeans will be returned to you, and your repair order fee minus shipping and handling will be refunded.
WHAT CAN YOU REPAIR ON MY JEANS? DO YOU ONLY REPAIR JEANS? WHAT ABOUT NON-INDIGO DENIM?
Whatever happened to your jeans, we can most likely repair it. From rips, holes, old failed previous repairs, broken zippers, missing/broken buttons or rivets, belt loops, torn buttonholes, ripped pocket bags, shredded pocket entries, back pockets, broken stitching, broken chainstitching, hem reconstructions, and the list goes on!
We can repair pretty much anything made of denim. As far as non-denim items, most pants considered “workwear” and made from heavier, natural-fiber fabrics like canvas, duck, and various twills are usually fine to work on. I have an extensive library of thread colors that covers pretty much every shade of denim - all colors of indigo, stonewashed, black, gray, tan, white, red, purple, green etc! We’re nerds for color matching repairs to your garment.
HEAVYWEIGHT JEANS: CAN YOU REPAIR THEM?
Yes, up to 25oz denim- we love heavyweight jeans and are one of the only repair services in the USA that offer to work on them! Since heavyweight denim requires some different set-ups on machinery and literally is heavier and more difficult to handle, any denim 20oz and up will add +$25 to your total repair cost.
ANYTHING YOU WON’T DARN?
I do not darn: Extremely thinning soft jeans, super lightweight fabrics, jeggings (leggings disguised as jeans) and Carhartt’s (jackets and pants). Nothing against Carhartts! Just not my specialty.
WHAT ABOUT STRETCH DENIM?
I don’t encourage darning repair on anything that is less than 98% cotton or natural fiber denim. Anything under 98% is too unstable and does not respond well to darning repairs. We do offer patching options for anything too stretchy for darning - this will not be an “invisible” style repair like darning repairs. If you submit a stretch jean, you will likely be offered a patching/darn option. If your jeans have puckering across the lap or seat that means the fabric is breaking down and most likely your jeans are not a good candidate for a darning repair.
ARE MY JEANS TOO DESTROYED TO REPAIR?
Almost anything can be repaired, the real question is “does this make sense to repair for me?” The more destroyed a jean is, the more a repair is going to cost, and the more obvious it’s going to be that extensive repair work was done. If your damage is significant, the cost to repair your jeans can sometimes out-price the new cost of your jeans. This is because skilled repairs take a lot of time, and we take the time to do it right to give you a long lasting and functional, as well as subtle, repair. If your jeans are extremely thin and have rips all over (especially on the front thighs and knees), darning may not be the right answer for your pair, and patching will be recommended. Darning needs enough strong material to weave into for a repair to be done and to last. Evaluations are done on a case-by-case basis, and we will let you know what is possible for your pair.
WHAT'S YOUR TURNAROUND TIME?
We’re a very small operation, and turnaround can vary depending on the time of year and current workload. Because of the many variables, we only provide a turnaround time for current customers in the repair queue.
I LIVE IN OR AM PLANNING A TRIP TO PORTLAND! CAN I COME BY AND DROP OFF MY JEANS? OR MY JEAN WAS ACCEPTED BUT I’M LOCAL, CAN I DROP OFF INSTEAD OF MAIL THEM?
We do not accept repair drop-offs in person. I know if you live here, it seems to make sense that dropping your pair off is easiest, but we need a return address and deposit for all repairs and drop off repairs give too much room for ghosting us on your invoice and never picking up your jeans. All clients, no matter where you live need to apply during open booking; preference is given to my VIP list (SIGN UP HERE)
We are currently open for all custom denim alterations including hemming, tapering, waist resizing and custom tailoring fittings and drop-offs, click here to make an appointment! We do not have open walk-in hours currently.
INTERNATIONAL REPAIR POLICY:
We LOVE to repair jeans for our international clients!!! Because of customs restrictions, after placing an order you will be responsible for shipping to Indigo Proof. Email me if you have questions about international orders!
MY JEANS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY, CAN YOU REWORK AN OLD REPAIR?
It really depends on the repair. All repairs previously done by Indigo Proof can be re-repaired (unless otherwise specified). Repairs using tape, iron-on interfacing or anything sticky may be turned down for repair, unless replacement is an option - such as front pocket replacement. Darning repairs from other repair services can occasionally be fully removed and re-worked if they are minimally stitched on; sometimes we can remove parts of it to re-work; and sometimes we can’t work with it at all if the repairs are very thick or there are multiple patches or layers of patches and darning. Repairs using hand-stitching can usually always be re-repaired, and hand-stitching is a great way to keep things together when you’re in a bind or between open bookings.
During the repair application process you will be able to upload photos of your damaged jean and we will let you know if re-repair is possible. Occasionally a repair will be accepted and the repair is not able to be removed - in that case we will have to work around the area, or decline it at that time if re-repair is not possible in that area.
SHOULD I REMOVE OLD REPAIR WORK BEFORE SENDING? DO YOU CHARGE TO REMOVE OLD REPAIR WORK?
I’ve seen (and seam-ripped out) my fair share of attempted home repairs gone wrong. If your jeans have prior repair work, whether you did hand-stitching or a zig-zag on a home machine, or maybe took it to a local dry-cleaner type tailor place for a quick patching job—grab a seam ripper and spend some time watching "The True Cost" on Netflix while removing the old work before sending it my way :) If your jeans have been patched, you can remove it pretty easily from the inside - that way you won’t damage the jeans further. If you do not feel comfortable with a seam ripper, or there’s a lot of layers of stitching on your old repair, don’t attempt to do this!
In the service of providing the best possible repairs, we do attempt to remove prior repairs when possible (I cannot remove previous darning, patches that were glued with fabric glues or iron-ons, and some patches that have become irreplaceable to the garment structurally). Hand stitching and zig-zag stitching on a home machine is usually fully removable. We do include the removal charge in the repair fee - unpicking stitches is difficult tedious work and sometimes can take a lot of time to remove entirely. Removing old repairs when possible allows us to repair your jean better!
STILL HAVE A QUESTION? AWESOME! EMAIL ME: info@indigoproof.com