Care and Repair
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Simple and Easy
We offer ongoing care, fit tweaks and repair on Kargede garments so you can keep wearing them for years, not seasons.
How it Works
1) Submit a Request
Use the form at the bottom of this page to tell us what you need.
2) We Review Your Garment
Our team looks at the construction, fabric and request. We’ll confirm if it’s:
Complimentary (free)
Standard repair (fixed fee)
Custom work (quoted)
3) Shipping / Drop-Off
You either post the garment to us or, if you’re in Sydney, you can arrange a drop-off at our atelier.
You cover the cost to send it to us. We cover the cost to send it back to you after approved repair.
4) We Repair in-House
The same level of precision as when it was first made. No outsourcing, ever.
5) You Wear it Longer
The goal is not “good as new.” The goal is “mine for years.”
The Essential Details
Complimentary Repairs (No Cost)
We do these free of charge for all Kargede garments, for their entire life:
Loose stitch / seam reinforcement
Restitching a seam that’s opened along an original construction line.
Button replacement (including thread + securing)
For designs that shipped with buttons or clasps.
Hardware tightening / strap loop re-stitch
Re-securing strap loops, internal anchors, hooks, eyes, sliders, rings etc.
Minor lining restitch
Small hand-sewn lining openings at seams (not full lining replacement).
Elastic retack
If internal elastic has come loose at the seam anchor point.
Why free? Because these are small repairs that meaningfully extend wear, and they’re part of responsible making.
What’s not included for free: damage from incorrect washing, heat burns, tearing fabric on sharp edges, stains, accidental cuts, pet damage, etc. Those are still fixable; they just fall under paid work below.
Standard Paid Repairs (Fixed Fee)
These are common wear-and-tear fixes. We price them fairly to cover materials and labour.
Hemline adjustment
Re-hem or clean up a frayed hem.
Used for: fraying on raw hems, stepped hems that need evening out, length tweaks within reason.
Panel replacement
If a single panel has torn, burnt, or has a hole: we unpick that panel and replace it with a newly cut matching panel (if we still hold that fabric or a visually compatible substitute).
Strap repair / strap re-make
Rebuilding or reinforcing a strap that’s stretched out or snapped.
Lining panel replacement
Replacing a damaged section of lining, not just stitching it shut.
Zip replacement / zip re-setting
Removing a failed zipper and setting in a new high-quality zip.
Surface scuff correction (vegan leather)
Assessment and treatment of light scuffs, edge wear, or friction shine on vegan leather using finish techniques we trust. This is visual restoration, not a repaint.
These are billed at a transparent fixed rate once we see photos, so you know the cost before you ship the garment.
Custom Repair & Tailoring (Quoted Case by Case)
For when you want to keep the garment, but it needs more than basic repair:
Reshape / re-fit
Small fit adjustments (e.g. bring in the waist, shorten a sleeve, adjust strap length permanently, refine neckline gape).
We’ll only approve requests that keep the integrity and intended balance of the design.
Full lining replacement
Full internal lining rebuild in Cupro or other premium lining we use. Recommended if lining has ripped in multiple places or is stained beyond rescue.
Elastic refresh
Replacing stretched internal elastic panels with new elastic of correct tension.
Colour panel swap / aesthetic refresh
If a garment uses panelling, we may (when fabric is available) replace a panel in a new colour or finish for a subtle “Version 2” feel without buying a whole new piece. This supports slow fashion without killing self-expression.
Significant damage repair
Heat marks, tears through multiple seams, pet clawing, nail polish spills, etc. We’ll tell you honestly if it’s restorable or not.
These are quoted because they’re real tailoring work, not mass quick-fix.
Pricing & Shipping
Assessment / quote:
Free. We’ll look at your request and photos and tell you up-front if it’s Complimentary, Standard Paid, or Custom.
Complimentary repairs:
1) $0 labour and $0 materials.
2) You pay postage to us.
3) We cover tracked return shipping back to you within Australia.
Standard Paid repairs:
Fixed fee (labour + materials).
You pay postage to us.
You pay the repair fee.
We cover tracked return shipping back to you within Australia.
Custom / Tailoring:
Quoted individually.
You pay postage to us.
You pay the quoted fee.
We cover tracked return shipping back to you within Australia.
International Customers:
You cover shipping both ways.
Duties / customs must be clearly marked as “Return for Repair – No Commercial Value” on the parcel. We’ll provide wording for your label once we approve your request.
Turnaround:
Because all work is done in-house by our atelier team (not a third-party alterations shop), repair timelines can vary with workload and complexity. We’ll give you an estimated timeframe when we confirm your repair so you can plan around events and occasions.
Limits & Honesty
We’ll always try first. But we won’t do work that:
1) Compromises the structure, drape or safety of the garment.
2) Turns the garment into something it was never meant to be (for example, cutting a sculpted corset-style bodice into a backless halter with no internal support).
3) Requires fabric we can no longer source at a standard you’d be happy to wear.
If we can’t ethically repair it to a standard we stand behind, we’ll tell you. We’d rather be honest than send something back that will fail in two wears.
General FAQ
Do you repair garments from other brands?
No. Care & Repair is only for authentic Kargede pieces. We know our own construction inside out, which lets us stand behind the work.
What if the damage was my fault?
That’s okay. We don’t shame wear. Clothes are meant to live. If it’s fixable, we’ll quote it. You can decide.
Will my garment look visibly different after a panel swap?
If we still have the exact fabric/colour batch, we’ll use it. If not, we’ll tell you what’s possible (for example, a slightly different inner panel that’s not obvious in wear, or a visible contrast panel as a design element). You choose.
Can you tailor the fit after I’ve worn it?
In many cases, yes – for example shortening straps, bringing in the waist slightly, or refining gape. We’ll only approve work that won’t break the garment’s structure or ruin how it sits on the body. This is custom, so it’s quoted.
Can you make a major design change?
We’ll happily evolve or refresh, but we won’t destroy stability or safety. If the request will cause stress points, constant pulling, or fabric failure, we’ll say no.
Will you post my piece on social media?
Not without your permission and never disclosing any information about you. Some repairs are beautiful stories of longevity and we love to celebrate that, but you always get to choose.
Why do I have to pay shipping to you?
Because we’re a small independent atelier, not a volume chain. We cover the tracked return shipping within Australia once a repair is approved and completed; that’s our commitment back to you.
What if you can’t repair it?
Rest assured, we take initial assessment seriously. If we do not believe your garment can be repaired, we will tell you before you ship it. In rare cases where the garment has been shipped and we discover that it cannot be repaired, you’ll get it back as-is, with honest notes for future care
