November 2026

18 Repair, Reuse, Repeat: Why Fixing Things Is Back For a long time, replacing something seemed easier than repairing it. A broken toaster, torn jacket, damaged phone, loose chair, or worn pair of boots could be treated as an excuse to buy the next version. That habit is being questioned. Repair has practical appeal. Fixing an item can save money, preserve something you already like, and keep useful materials in service longer. It can also restore a skill that disappeared when products became easier to replace than understand. The movement is bigger than house- hold hobbies. The Federal Trade Commission has examined repair restrictions involving product design, parts, diagnostic tools, software locks, and access to repair information. Its report to Congress found that manufacturers use a variety of practices that can make independent or consumer repair more difficult. For everyday people, the larger policy debate often becomes a simple question: can this thing be fixed? Photo by | cottonbro studio