Nina Droff 10:33 a.m., March 23, 2023

In her workshop, Julie, a former stylist, patches up and gives a youth to old wool and cashmere sweaters... This "sweater doctor" works mainly on pieces that have sentimental value for customers. Europe 1 went to meet him, in his Parisian apartment transformed into a workshop.

Giving a second life to old wool or cashmere knitwear is the mission that Julie, a former stylist, has given herself. Europe 1 went to his Paris apartment, which has become his workshop where dozens of sweaters are scattered. Wool jacket on her shoulders and needle in hand, Julie stitches the many holes in a blue cashmere sweater.

"A very meticulous work"

Clients deposit their meshes in the "clinic" to be patched up, repaired or redesigned. Depending on the repairs, the price can vary from 10 to 150 euros. "There, I'm going to use the thread of another cashmere sweater to reweave the mesh and close the holes," says Julie, focused on her work. "It's a very thorough job."

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The "sweater doctor" does not just "plug" the holes on the tops, she also sometimes makes more original repairs: combination of two sweaters to enlarge them, shiny thread elbow pad or design changes. "I had a client whose sweater had shrunk," she says. "So, I cut the sleeves to use them to enlarge the sides. It changes the style, but it saves the sweater!"

© Nina Droff / EUROPE 1

"Sweaters like cuddly toys"

What Julie is passionate about are the stories of these sweaters. Most of the clothes entrusted to him have sentimental value for customers. "The knitwear, the sweaters, it's comforting, it takes smells, it often reminds a parent, a boyfriend ...", she marvels. " It's really like a blanket. I have a lot of people who ask me to repair sweaters that belonged to their parents to wear them."

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In the long term, the former stylist hopes to be able to open her own workshop and especially teach younger people to work with these old knits.