My silk dress ripped at a show in Austin and I had to fix it backstage

I was backstage at a small fashion show in Austin when my model snagged the hem of a silk dress on a nail. It was a clean rip about four inches long, right before she was supposed to walk. I grabbed my emergency kit and used a tiny bit of fabric glue and a hidden interior stitch to hold it together just for the show. It looked perfect from the front and got through the walk. Has anyone else had to do a quick fix on delicate fabric like that? What's your go-to method?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_andrew1mo ago

Sounds like a lot of fuss for a tiny rip.

the_cameron1mo ago

That fabric glue and hidden stitch trick is solid for a show. I've used clear nail polish on a tiny silk snag before as a quick sealant. It dries fast and stops runs in a pinch.

margaret_kim131mo ago

Clear nail polish is such a smart move for silk, @the_cameron. I had a dress rip backstage once and used hairspray as a last resort, it was a total mess lol. Your glue and stitch method sounds way more reliable for keeping things together under stage lights.