Now that the economic downturn has well set in and there’s no booming recovery around the corner, it’s a good moment to take stock of the little things that have changed. Ed, a dry cleaner in Brooklyn, says, “I’m seeing a lot more repairs, a lot more patches.”

Instead of throwing away clothes that have a rip or don’t fit, more of his customers are asking for work done. His customers are telling him, “Let it out, let it in,” he says, getting pants that are too tight adjusted, dresses that are too wide cinched up.

It seems the “everything is disposable” mentality has gone in for alterations.

“People are holding onto stuff longer,” says Ed.

And not to put Ed out of a job, but if you want to save even more money than just repairing clothes rather than buying new ones, here’s a complete guide to mending your own clothes.

Are you a small business owner? How have you noticed your customers’ behaviors changing in response to harder times? Sound off in the comments.

How to Mend Clothes [HowStuffWorks]

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