Old Flame Mending
Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based clothing repair, tailoring, and visible mending service serving individual consumers through a retail counter, paid workshops, social events, and an expanding mail-in channel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Old Flame Mending does
Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based clothing repair, tailoring, and visible mending service founded in 2019. The company operates a primary retail location inside Magic Dry Cleaners + Shirt at 6101 Broad Street in East Liberty, with walk-in service on Fridays and Saturdays plus appointment-based booking through an online scheduling system, and a secondary venue on California Avenue in the Avalon neighborhood used for workshops and private lessons. Its core offering combines professional repair and alteration services — including seam fixes, button replacement, patching, hemming, and aesthetic visible mending techniques such as sashiko — with an educational portfolio of paid workshops covering darning, hand embroidery, denim repair, and Mending 101 basics. The technology underpinning the business is traditional craft: hand stitching, machine repair, darning, embroidery, sashiko, and alterations performed by skilled artisans, with no proprietary software, AI/ML components, or digital platform dependencies beyond a standard Squarespace website and Acuity scheduling integration.
The business operates a service-centric, transaction-based revenue model charging one-time fees per garment repair and per workshop seat. Repair services are priced individually per garment, while paid classes range from $30 for online darning to $65 for premium in-person workshops, with free Mending 101 classes offered at Carnegie Library and CC Mellor Memorial Library locations as community programming. Social events branded "Mend + Meal" combine sewing instruction with partner-provided food from Mandu Handu at the Otto Finn venue, priced at $10 plus the cost of the meal. Additional revenue streams include private lessons (one-on-one and small group instruction, with 50% deposit required) and an expanding mail-in service targeting customers beyond the Pittsburgh metro. Old Flame Mending serves primarily individual consumers within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area who value sustainability and garment longevity, with a secondary segment of sewing hobbyists and groups seeking instruction. As of September 2023 the company had served over 6,000 garments and targeted 9,000 for the year, raising approximately $50,000 through a Honeycomb Credit community debt offering to fund equipment, mail-in expansion, and marketing.
Old Flame Mending firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Old Flame Mending
- Legal name
- Old Flame Mending
- Website
- https://oldflamemending.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based clothing repair, tailoring, and visible mending service serving individual consumers through a retail counter, paid workshops, social events, and an expanding mail-in channel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Old Flame Mending industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clothing Repair and Tailoring Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seam, Tear & Rip Repair / Reinforcement (HSAJAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Patchwork, Mending & Darning (Knitwear/Denim) (HSAJAFAI), Vintage & Heirloom Textile/Garment Conservation (HSAJAGAH)
Keywords
Where Old Flame Mending is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Old Flame Mending business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Clothing Repair and Alterations Services: One-time service fees for clothing repair, tailoring, and alterations including mending tears, hemming, taking in garments, button replacement, seam repair, and patching.
- Classes and Workshops: Fees charged for educational workshops including Darning 101, Hand Embroidery, Sashiko, Mending 101, Denim Repair, and Sweater Mending. Both in-person and online formats available. Some classes include materials kits.
- Mend + Meal Social Events: Social sewing events combining mending instruction with food from partner Mandu Handu. Ticket price plus cost of meal.
- Private Lessons: One-on-one and small group sewing/mending instruction. Individual and group classes available for 2-3 people or groups of 4+. 50% deposit required when booking.
- Mail-in Service: Expanding mail-in repair service allowing customers to send garments for repair without visiting in person.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mend + Meal Social Events |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Darning Workshop Online |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-Person Darning Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hand Embroidery Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Denim Repair Online |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Darning Workshop with Next Season NYC |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Mending 101 at Libraries |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lessons |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Old Flame Mending product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based service that provides professional clothing repair, tailoring, alterations, visible mending, and custom sewing work to extend the life of garments and textiles. The offering also includes educational workshops (darning, embroidery, sashiko, denim repair), private lessons, and community social sewing events, with services delivered in-person at their East Liberty location, through mail-in, and via pop-up events.
Product overview
Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based clothing repair and tailoring service offering a unified suite of services combining in-person repair work with educational workshops. The core offering consists of professional clothing repair and alterations (including seam fixes, button replacement, patching, darning, and hemming) delivered at their East Liberty location and via mail-in service. This is complemented by a portfolio of fee-based workshops and classes—including Darning 101, Hand Embroidery, Sashiko, Mending 101, and Denim Repair workshops—alongside social events branded as Mend + Meal. The company also offers private one-on-one and small group lessons for personalized sewing instruction. The product portfolio functions as a service-centric model combining retail repair operations with educational programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clothing Repair and Alterations Professional clothing repair, tailoring, and alteration services for individual consumers, including seam fixes, button replacement, patching, hemming, and taking in garments. Delivered in person at the East Liberty and Avalon locations or via mail-in.
- Darning 101 Workshop Workshop teaching individual participants how to darn holes in sweaters, socks, and knit garments using yarn or embroidery floss. Available in online ($30) and in-person ($55 with materials kit) formats.
- Hand Embroidery Workshop Workshop teaching 8 basic embroidery stitches to cover stains, personalize mending, or create standalone embroidered pieces. Materials included. Priced at $55 per participant.
- Sashiko Workshop Workshop teaching Sashiko, a Japanese folk mending method involving decorative geometric stitching patterns to repair and reinforce fabric. Taught by Rebecca Harrison.
- Mend + Meal Social Events Social sewing events combining mending time with food from partner Mandu Handu, typically hosted at Otto Finn venue. Participants bring their own mending and sew together in a group setting. $10 ticket plus cost of meal.
- Mending 101 Class Entry-level class covering basic clothing repair skills including button replacement, sewing seams, fixing tears, and patching. Offered free at Carnegie Library and CC Mellor Memorial Library locations.
- Denim Repair Workshop Online workshop teaching techniques to repair holes in denim jeans using a sewing machine. Covers straight stitch and reverse capabilities. Priced at $45 per participant.
- Private Lessons One-on-one or small group sewing instruction covering clothing repair, sewing machine operation, basic alterations, hand sewing, embroidery, and making pillows from existing textiles. Available for groups of 2-3 or 4+ participants. 50% deposit required when booking.
- Mail-In Repair Service Remote clothing repair service allowing customers to mail in garments for repair, alteration, or mending work, extending the company's reach beyond the Pittsburgh area.
Quantifiable outcome
- Aims to mend 9,000 garments in 2023, having already served over 6,000 garments
Companies that use Old Flame Mending
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Old Flame Mending technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Old Flame Mending partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and regular.
- Next Season NYCminorCollaborative workshop partner for darning workshop held at Talea Cobble Hill in Brooklyn, NY. Combined event bringing Old Flame Mending's teaching expertise to a new market.
- Circular ThriftminorHosted Rebecca Harrison for a virtual talk on circular economy and textile mending as part of Rustbelt Fibershed Symposium. Partner focused on making reuse practical through hyperlocal textile waste solutions.
- Mandu HanducoreRegular food partner for Mend + Meal social sewing events at Otto Finn. Provides vegan and gluten-free Korean cuisine that participants can pre-order. This partnership combines mending education with community dining experience.
- Otto FinncoreVenue host for Mend + Meal events and Mend + Meal Mileu gatherings. Located at 4607 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Provides space for social sewing events.
- BohemeregularRegular pop-up location at 5156 Butler Street, Pittsburgh. Hosts Old Flame Mending pop-up events where customers can drop off items for mending. Orders ready in 2 weeks for pickup at Old Flame or via mail.
- Bellevue Farmers MarketregularPop-up location at Bayne Park (34 North Balph Avenue, Pittsburgh). Regular Wednesday evening market appearances during warmer months. Orders ready in 2 weeks at next market.
- Magic Dry Cleaners + ShirtcoreHost location for Old Flame Mending's primary retail presence. Located at 6101 Broad St., Pittsburgh PA 15206 in East Liberty. Provides co-location for one-stop shop for repair work, alterations, dry cleaning, and laundry services.
- Carnegie Library of PittsburghregularPartner for free Mending 101 classes at Downtown (612 Smithfield Street) and Squirrel Hill (4400 Forbes Avenue) locations. Classes cover basics including button replacement, sewing seams, fixing tears, and patching.
- CC Mellor Memorial Library (Edgewood)regularPartner for free Mending 101 class at Edgewood location (1 Pennwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218).
- Sam's VintageregularWorkshop venue at 3701 Butler Street, Pittsburgh. Hosts sweater mending and darning workshops taught by Old Flame Mending instructors.
- Sol RefillminorDelivery partner mentioned for Boheme pop-up orders. Customers can pick up mended items through this delivery partner in addition to in-person pickup or mail.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Old Flame Mending competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Old Flame Mending social profiles
Digital presenceOld Flame Mending financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Old Flame Mending leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Old Flame Mending funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Old Flame Mending M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Old Flame Mending
What does Old Flame Mending do?
Old Flame Mending is a Pittsburgh-based service that provides professional clothing repair, tailoring, alterations, visible mending, and custom sewing work to extend the life of garments and textiles. The offering also includes educational workshops (darning, embroidery, sashiko, denim repair), private lessons, and community social sewing events, with services delivered in-person at their East Liberty location, through mail-in, and via pop-up events.
Is Old Flame Mending a public or private company?
Old Flame Mending is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Old Flame Mending founded?
Old Flame Mending was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Old Flame Mending based?
Old Flame Mending is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Old Flame Mending make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Clothing Repair and Alterations Services are the primary driver. The others are classes and Workshops, mend + Meal Social Events, private Lessons and mail-in Service.
Does Old Flame Mending have an API?
No public API is recorded for Old Flame Mending.
What industry is Old Flame Mending in?
Old Flame Mending's product category is Clothing Repair and Tailoring Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAJAFAG, Seam, Tear & Rip Repair / Reinforcement, with a secondary code of HSAJAFAI, Patchwork, Mending & Darning (Knitwear/Denim).