What to buy for a clothing repair café

A clothing repair café needs more than sewing machines and spare thread. You’ll need enough tools for several repair stations, supplies for common fixes, and a simple system for receiving and labelling garments. Plan refreshments for the people attending, plus practical items for tables, clothing storage and safe cable management. Use this list alongside your repair inventory so you buy supplies that match the repairs visitors have registered.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 35
Coat racksqty 3
Clothes racksqty 3
Storage boxesqty 12

Equipment

Sewing machinesqty 4
Ironsqty 2
Ironing boardsqty 2
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6

Tools

Scissorsqty 12
Bird's beak knivesqty 8
Pin cushionsqty 8
Measuring tapesqty 8
Needlesqty 10
Tailor's chalkqty 6
Wire cuttersqty 6

Repair materials

Spools of threadqty 40
Sewing kitsqty 8
Zippersqty 30
Button assortmentqty 4
Knee and elbow padsqty 30
Iron-on hem tapeqty 4
Elastic bandsqty 5
Velcroqty 5
Fabric glueqty 6
Pieces of fabricqty 3
Safety pinsqty 100

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 50
Platesqty 40
Spoonsqty 40
Pliersqty 4

Catering

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 2
Serving traysqty 4
Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Lemon - 6 pieces
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Young cheese - 1 kilo
- Vegetarian slices - 500 gram
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Gluten-free bread - 2 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 3 packs
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 1 kilo
- Carrots - 1 kilo
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilo
- Raisins - 500 grams
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Rice cakes - 4 packs
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs

Presentation

Registration formsqty 60
Name badgesqty 50
Pensqty 20
Clothing labelsqty 100
Clipboardsqty 6
Price listsqty 4
Directional signsqty 8

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 3
Broomsqty 2
Vacuum cleaner
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Waste binsqty 4

Safety

Safety gogglesqty 8
Thimblesqty 10
Cable matsqty 6

Tips

Plan one complete tool set per active workstation where possible: scissors, measuring tapes, needles, tailor’s chalk and a pin cushion. Sharing one set between several tables quickly creates queues.
Match repair materials to the requests collected before the event. Stock a range of zippers, buttons, elastic, Velcro, hem tape and fabric pieces rather than buying large quantities of one type.
Allow at least one power strip and one extension cord for each sewing-machine or ironing area, and keep cables away from walkways. Test every sewing machine before participants arrive.
Prepare storage boxes and labels before opening the room. A labelled garment should show the participant’s name or number and the requested repair, so clothing does not get mixed up at the reception desk.
For refreshments, count reusable cups and plates against your registration list, then add a small buffer. Prepare coffee and tea before opening and chill other drinks early enough for them to be cold when visitors arrive.

Frequently asked questions

What tools do I need for a clothing repair café?: For each active workstation, provide scissors, needles, a pin cushion, a measuring tape and tailor’s chalk. Add wire cutters and bird’s beak knives where the planned repairs require them, and keep spare tools available for busy periods.
How much sewing thread should I buy for a repair café?: Prepare several spools in the colours most likely to match the garments, plus black, white and neutral shades. Check the repair inventory first and have at least one spare spool for each frequently used colour.
How many sewing machines and irons do I need?: Use one sewing machine and one iron with ironing board for each repair station that needs them. Test all machines and irons before the event, and provide one power strip and extension cord per powered area.
What should I prepare for receiving clothes at a repair café?: Set up a reception desk with labels, storage boxes and a clear numbering system before doors open. Label every garment as it arrives and record the requested repair immediately, so items can be returned correctly later.

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