Make Do and Mend: How Wartime Britain Learned to Repair, Reuse, and Carry On

Make Do and Mend: How Wartime Britain Learned to Repair, Reuse, and Carry On

 

 I want to return to learning a little about life on the Home Front during the Second World War. Today I want to look at something that became a huge part of life for ordinary families that was Make Do and Mend.

When Britain entered the war in September 1939, life changed very quickly. At first, some of the shortages were manageable, but as the war continued, food, fuel, and clothing became much harder to get. Ships that were bringing goods into Britain were being attacked by German U-boats. Factories were more focused on making equipment for the war, and materials like wool, cotton, and leather were in short supply.

By 1941, clothing rationing had been introduced in Britain. Everyone was given a limited number of clothing coupons each year. These reduced as the war went on. In 1941 people were allocated 66 coupons. In 1942 they were allowed 48 coupons and in 1943 they were reduced again to 36 coupons. Later on they reduced even further. These coupons had to cover everything from coats and shoes to underwear and socks. Buying new clothes was no longer something people could do whenever they wanted. Every purchase had to be carefully thought about.

This is why Make Do and Mend became so important. The phrase came from a campaign by the government that was launched by the Board of Trade in 1943. The idea was simple. Instead of throwing things away, people were encouraged to repair, reuse, alter, and recycle what they already had.

Old clothes were patched rather than replaced. Worn-out socks were darned. Dresses were altered to fit children as they grew up or reshaped to fit the changing fashions. A man’s old suit could be turned into a jacket for a young boy. Some people used old blankets to make coats or dressing gowns. Nothing useful was wasted.

This really must have needed some real creativity and patience. Many women got incredibly good at sewing, knitting, and mending because they had little other choice. Mothers often spent their evenings in the dim light repairing clothes. All after probably working long and tiring days or volunteering in the war effort.

Children also grew up understanding that clothes had value. Ripping a sleeve was not a reason to throw something away. It was something that needed to be fixed. Hand-me-downs became normal, and younger siblings usually wore clothes that had already been used and mended by other members of the family.

The campaign also influenced attitudes about other things, not just clothes. Furniture was also repaired, household items were reused, and scraps of fabric were saved because you never knew when they would come in handy. Wartime Britain became a place where resourcefulness came into its own. People learned to look at old items and think, What can this become?

Of course, Make Do and Mend was about more than saving material. It also became a mark of resilience. To me it reflects a wartime mindset, one of endurance, determination, and refusing to waste precious resources while the country was fighting for survival.

 

The message still feels very relevant today. In a world where everything seems so easy and quick to replace, maybe we could learn something from wartime  Britain.

 

Do you think we could learn something from the wartime spirit of Make Do and Mend?