Product life spans are getting shorter – one UK-based fashion company advises buyers to work to quality standards that assume a dress will stay in its owner’s wardrobe for less than five weeks. And it’s not just clothes: household appliances can be cheaper to replace than repair, with spare parts often available only if harvested from retired machines. Sometimes attempting repair can render warranties invalid.
In the UK a new law the "Right to Repair" Bill came into force in 2021 aiming to end the “built to break” cycle by requiring that manufactures make spare parts and maintenance information available for their products. The intention is to overcome built-in obsolescence, enable repairs and extend lifespans.
But its more than just government legislation. Local communities are already trailblazing the way forward in the art of repair.
In this article by the Guardian, a number of artists who are building repair communities are featured.
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