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FXRY – Making Alterations & Repairs Accessible to All
Seattle-based FXRY makes fixing your old clothes easy. You can mail your old clothes to them, or visit their local Seattle studio. Let’s hear more from the founder, Calley Dawson!
“After 25 years in corporate apparel design, I couldn’t bear the thought of continuing to create more clothing without a solution to the waste crisis. I’d always wanted to start my own business, but I was hesitant. It felt so competitive, and I wasn’t sure why someone would want to buy a dress or shirt from me. After doing a lot of research, I discovered companies in Europe making repairs and alterations more accessible, so I thought, why not bring this idea to the US? That’s how FXRY’s journey started two years ago.
My first fixer, Beck, I found at a local flea market. I walked up and down the aisles asking vendors if they knew how to sew and if they’d be interested in working with me. They joined me for my first pop-up and have been with me ever since. I’ve found others through networking, and I met Natalie, our studio manager and lead tailor, through a design school engagement. She’s been a huge part of growing the business. Olena, our alterations queen, responded to an IG ad about 8 months ago and had just immigrated from Ukraine. I love the team we’ve built, and I’m excited to meet more amazing people as we grow.
FXRY operates a service-based model focused on clothing alterations and repairs, designed to be both local and scalable. We generate revenue through flat-rate pricing for repairs, alterations, and custom work, delivered through three main channels.
1. Local Services: Home pick-up and drop-off, in-studio appointments, and weekend walk-ins in our Seattle flagship.
2. Pop-Ups: Partnering with boutiques, brands and events for on-site fittings and drop-offs.
3. Mail-In: Nationwide service where customers ship garments to us for expert repairs and alterations, then receive them back by mail.
Our model is designed to be replicated in new markets by combining digital booking, centralized repair fulfillment, and flexible local delivery partners, making sustainable fashion care accessible anywhere.
The three most popular FXRY services are sweater reknitting, denim darning for crotch blowouts, and hemming sleeves on Filson Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser Jackets. It’s funny how high this jacket ranks, but our pop-up partnership with Filson has really helped spread the word. We also do a lot of waist adjustments on pants and jeans, and of course, the classic denim hem.
We’ve had some interesting, challenging requests, too, like repairing a three-year-old’s crochet blanket and a stuffed animal. We’ve also restored some rad vintage Levi’s jackets from the 1950s and even altered a coat from the 1890s. We’ve repaired many clothes passed down from grandparents or parents, allowing people to hold on to a piece of their loved ones. It’s really special to be part of keeping these sentimental treasures alive.
Most people think a hole in a sweater means it’s done for, but a lot of the time, we can fix it invisibly. Or if it’s not possible to make it completely invisible, we can make it discreet. And sometimes we love a mend that’s a little more noticeable, it’s like wearing a badge of honor for repairing over replacing.
Many people believe clothing repair is only for high-quality or expensive items, but that’s not the case. Repairing even affordable clothes can save you money and reduce waste, which helps both your wallet and the environment. Another myth is that repairs are always expensive, but small fixes, like replacing a button, hemming pants, or patching a tear, are usually pretty affordable and extend the life of your clothes. People also assume repairs are only for small damages, but even large rips, broken zippers, or worn-out fabric can often be repaired. And when it comes to visible mending, it doesn’t ruin the look of the garment; it actually adds personality and makes it a stylish statement.
To encourage more people to fix and mend their clothes, we need to start with people showing off the clothes they’ve had repaired or have repaired themselves, and taking pride in not falling for the “replace it” mentality. I bought a secondhand designer sweatshirt a couple of years ago that had a small stain on the front. I decided to put a darning stitch over it and then added a few more all over the sweatshirt to make it look intentional. That sweatshirt sat in my closet for 9 months, but now I can’t stop wearing it, and I get tons of compliments on it.
I’ve really leaned into visible mends, not fancy ones, just ones that say, “This has been repaired.” I hope this trend catches on! Social media is a great platform for educating people about what can be repaired and making it “cool.” If we can make it easier for people to find skilled fixers who can do the job well, it will definitely help encourage more people to fix their clothes.
I don’t know of any services in the US that have the same scalability and accessibility that FXRY offers. There are other menders, but most are one-person operations, which I totally respect. However, I think the potential for a platform like FXRY, offering an array of skilled fixers that you can book online, is pretty unique in the US.”