Kaketsugi – Japanese Art of Invisible Repair

A small hole in a jacket or a pair of pants can make us sad, especially if it is a favorite piece of clothing. And we probably think that it is time to get rid of the garment, although it is not always the case. Luckily there is the Japanese art of kaketsugi , or invisible repair, which can take a damaged garment and make it look new to the point where you wouldn’t even realize there was a hole in it.

In Kaketsugi , the fabric is repaired by taking a piece of the same fabric from another part of the garment that is not visible (such as the seam allowance on the inside of a jacket). After the fabric is cut, it is placed over the hole and its threads are woven into the rest of the fabric. The delicate process is a wonderful sight to behold, involving skills that can take many years to master.

When done right, the arrangement seems invisible and breathes new life into a beloved item of clothing.