132 Re-Action – repairing: from radical to renaissance

Guest bios

Rosanna Watson – Snowdonia Gear Repair

Rosanna Watson is the owner and founder of Snowdonia Gear Repair, an outdoor clothing repair and alterations business based in North Wales. 

Originally from South West Scotland, Rosanna spent most of her childhood either outside or making things. She trained as an engineer but continued to sew, and in her 20s began to make her own outdoor gear. 

The idea for Snowdonia Gear Repair was born on a visit to Llanberis (where Jos, Rosanna’s partner grew up). The two now run the business full time from their workshop in Y Felinheli with the help of another two repair technicians and a shop dog Alma. 

Becky Kirby – Sheffield Clothing Repair

Becky Kirby, owner and Chief Repairer at Sheffield Clothing Repair, says: “I grew up in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, where I learned basic hand stitching and machine sewing from my Mum, and DIY skills from my Dad. I’ve always been a very hands on, practical person, happiest when my hands and mind are being kept busy. I now live on the northern outskirts of Sheffield with my partner Sam and our cat Tiki.

Where did SCR come from?

In between leaving home at 19, and the present time, I did a small amount of travelling, then got stuck into ‘grown-up’ life, working different office jobs. At 27, I decided to follow a dream I’d had since childhood, and returned to college to gain my Plumbing Qualifications. Working in that sector, you really go through many knees in trousers, and so I started to repair my own kit, as well as my partners. Once our friends started to hear about my expanding skills, the requests started to come in thick and fast. The word around Repair was on the rise, so at the suggestion of Sam to ‘get ahead of the curve’, I started Sheffield Clothing Repair in October 2020. Obviously this was during lockdown, but it meant that I was able to continue working, without having to leave my home…. something I wasn’t able to do as a Plumber. 

Where is Sheffield Clothing Repair going? Three and a half years after opening our workshop doors, we’re having our most successful year yet. We are building our client base weekly, just by word of mouth and a small amount of Social Media. We have many returning customers, and even new customers just swinging in off the street. We have a fantastic working relationship with some well known and well loved brands, and have already toured Scotland on a two week repair adventure. We are also part of the Re-Action Collective, an ever expanding group of Repairers, Menders, Festival Salvage experts, and others who are all working towards creating the foundations for a circular economy. We are exploring sustainability, by taking responsibility. SCR’s plans for the future are bright and full of repairs, and we’ll also be delving into education and open repair sessions for groups.

Why does Becky repair? The long and short of it is that I love it, and I have the skills to do it. Even on my days off, I find it hard to stay away from the machines, but at that point I’ll still find something else practical to do with my hands. I love the challenges that come with repairs, and no two are the same. I really feed off being able to return a fully functioning garment back to a customer, when they thought it was beyond hope. It’s a really joyful area to work in, especially knowing you’re keeping someones beloved item in their life, rather than them having to say goodbye, and build a relationship with something new. Repair isn’t anything new, it’s just regaining popularity through both fashion and necessity.

Vicky Balfour – Vicky Bikes

Vicky Balfour rediscovered a love of cycling as an adult and relishes the joyful freedom it brings. She went on to train as a bike mechanic while working at her local bike shop, before branching out into event mechanics for Chain Reaction Cycles and teaching at a local Bike Project.

In 2020 Vicky set up VickyBikes, a platform to teach Mindful Mechanics 1:1 and in small groups as well as at events. Starting with online teaching, Vicky pulled on her experiences as a special needs Mum to focus on communication to ensure that clients are comfortable and happy learning. Vicky has a YouTube channel with free-to-all mechanics videos and writes regularly for BikeRadar and MBUK Magazine.

Alongside this Vicky is an advocate for womens and adaptive cycling, encouraging matriarchal spaces and supporting disabled riders. Vicky’s daughter rides an adaptive trike and they have made a couple of films about Mum’s bikepacking in Norfolk and North Yorkshire.