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Kathie welcomes Maddie Kertay to explore the deeper meaning behind mending—not just as a practical skill, but as a quiet, powerful act of rebellion against consumerism, capitalism, and patriarchy. They dive into the cultural, emotional, and communal importance of keeping clothes out of landfills and taking pride in handiwork.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Mending as Resistance: How the simple act of sewing on a button or repairing a backpack strap challenges fast fashion, planned obsolescence, and systemic disempowerment.
- Empowerment Through Skill: Mending fosters independence and confidence—“I can fix that” becomes a mindset that carries into daily life.
- Bartering, Community & Reciprocity: Mending as part of a shared economy and mutual aid—a skill exchanged for kindness, favors, or trade, just as our foremothers did.
- Imperfect is Perfect: Embracing mistakes and learning curves as part of creativity. “If a seven-year-old in Bangladesh can do it, so can you.”
- Barriers to Learning: Why fear and perfectionism keep adults from trying new things—versus the playful curiosity of kids.
- Mending as a Stepping Stone: How visible mending, thrift finds, and simple fixes deepen our relationship with clothing and consumption.
- Finding Time: With the average person watching 5 hours of TV a day, there’s room to make mending a cozy, mindful habit.
- Legacy and Value: Teaching kids (and grandkids) to appreciate the labor behind a handmade garment, and to build self-worth through making and maintaining.
Notable Quotes:
- “When we’re not fixing our backpacks, we’re not fighting back against patriarchy either.”
- “You don’t need a machine. Just a needle, a thread, and a little time.”
- “The cookie tin sewing kit—that’s ancestral wisdom right there.”
- “All clothes are handmade. Someone’s hands made that shirt you’re wearing.”
Where to Find Maddie
The Badass Quilter on Instagram
The Badass Quilter Community on Patreon