With international fashion houses selling wildly expensive pieces, high-street fast fashion, and no-frills (forgive the pun) clothes available in the local supermarket for under a tenner, the days of clothes rationing are certainly far behind us. It has never been easier or cheaper to clothe ourselves, but despite this, is it right to throw away our clothes just because of a hole here or a stain there?

Charity shops are a worthy home for items that are too small or ones we really won’t wear again, but what about those they won’t take? Surely we needn’t stick them in the dustbin for want of knowing how to put in a couple of handy stitches? And how do we make the clothes we have last longer? Read on, and this short-e guide will show you how a little knowledge and creativity can revolutionise the way you run your wardrobe – and save you a few pounds in the process.