Outdoor gear repair melds a variety of my values and interests, including sustainability, connection to the natural world, and working creatively.

• I am very passionate about sustainability — repair allows us to create loops within capitalism’s linear and harmful economy (see my paper on the Right to Repair Movement!)

• Feeling connected to the physical and natural world around me has always been important to me, but lack of access to gear excludes would-be nature-enjoyers — gear repair allows us to distribute used high quality gear at more accessible prices.

• Working creatively with my hands to create work has always been incredibly grounding and joyous to me. From middle school duct-tape dresses to a textile data visualization of the Columbia River to everyday mending I have always loved working with textile and fabric.

Through repairing outdoor gear and anything else I can get my hands on, I have learned how to work with a wide variety of textiles. By taking apart backpacks and apparel, I have learned how they are constructed and which areas tend to wear over time. I love learning how different materials age and which repair approach will suit their intended use. Each piece is its own little puzzle wherein I learn about the item, its owner, and get to extend its life into the future.

I find great joy in restoring pieces important to family members, repairing gear for outdoors programs to keep costs down, and aiding friends when their precious items break.

Repair PDX is a great resource for free repairs including textile mending, small appliance maintenance and repair, bike repair, outdoor gear repair (by yours truly), and occasional specialties like book repair, knife sharpening, and more!

Find upcoming events at https://www.repairpdx.org/