Kleepumist

Kleepumist is the designation given to practitioners of kleeping, a textile craft that combines repair with decorative embellishment. Practitioners mend worn fabrics using a thin layer of plant-based adhesive supplemented by stitching, producing repairs that are both durable and visually distinctive. The approach emphasizes extending the life of garments and repurposing damaged materials rather than discarding them.

The term kleeping and its adherents are thought to have originated in small coastal artisan communities in the Northlands during the early 20th century, with the suffix -ist indicating a skilled practitioner. The concept gained renewed attention in recent decades through the slow fashion movement and DIY repair communities, where it is valued for sustainability as well as artistry.

Techniques commonly used by kleepumists include visible mending, where the repair thread and adhesive create intentional patterns; layering of fabric fragments; and decorative stitching that doubles as reinforcement. Tools often include a needle, thimble, small clamps or weights, and natural adhesives derived from resins or waxes.

Cultural significance: within its communities, kleepumist is associated with resourcefulness, communal learning, and the preservation of family textiles. Modern practitioners document processes online, teach workshops, and contribute to textile museums and maker spaces by demonstrating repair as a craft rather than a fallback.

See also: mending, visible mending, slow fashion, sustainability; Further reading: the term appears in speculative fiction and in some craft subcultures as an example of sustainable textile practice.