Repair the World, Yes - But... Repair the Zipper?
In our system, imported items are cheap and American labor is expensive. Things break and it's "not worth it" to repair them, since the bill exceeds the value of the item, presuming the item is replaceable. With electronics, one generally replaces the item with something cheaper AND more powerful.
This calculus is predicated on the price of items, but sometimes this way of assigning value doesn't make any sense. I grabbed a skirt off a rack 2 seasons ago. It caught my eye because the colors and patterns delighted me, the style flattered (that alone is becoming a rare shopping feat), and I knew it would go well with many items already in my wardrobe. It was a steal, imported from India. It has sequins sewn on to the patterns. If that handwork were done in America, it would be sold in a craft fair, not a designer discount store. Everytime I wear it, it makes me happy. A few weeks ago, the zipper broke and I couldn't fix it myself.
I took it today to a local drycleaner who does alterations, owned by hard-working Asian immigrants. The charge for replacing a zipper is a realistic $25. I remember from my sewing days that zippers are a huge pain! So now the cost of labor exceeds the "value" of the skirt. But, it's not replaceable, and I love the skirt. In my opinion, it is a perfectly rational choice to pay someone fair value for their labor. The fact that the Indian factory workers who created the skirt were paid on in Indian payscale is not relevant, really. So I plunked down the money and will soon be able to wear this favorite skirt again.
Repairing something always feel more environmentally responsible than tossing it. Raising this to a spiritual level, it becomes personal Tikkun Olam, fixing one's world. Even if it's not, as they say, always cost effective....
What instincts and principles guide you when faced with these choices?
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