Let’s patch-up: How these repair services bring objects back to life

Load the glue gun, cue the Q-tips. As India warms up to repair services, see who’s mending their own business

Who knew there was so much power in a single cotton bud? In repairing videos online, the little sticks do all the heavy lifting. They tease grime from the corners of expensive leather pouches. They apply just the right shade of red to the scuffed sole of a designer shoe. They deposit the glue that reunites buttons. They turn ASMR content into a rallying call for fixing, reusing and making a pricey product last a little longer.

Shree Mahaveer Toys gives a new lease of life to old toys that have been damaged for decades. (ADOBE STOCK)

Restoring a worn-out pair of shoes is less about the tools used and more about the technique.

Sandeep Gajakas says he was keen on cleaning his shoes and making them good as new, even as a child.

A full-service restoring session involves cleaning, covering scuffed areas, and treating worn leather.

Mallika Sharma of The Leather Laundry says that clients send in items that hold sentimental value.

Mukesh Kumar and his team of four fix baby cars, bikes and hoverboards. (ADOBE STOCK)