Will It Hold? 4 Checks to Run on Any Repair Patch (What the Jury Looked For)
The award, and the patch that earned it.
You're standing in the kitchen with a pair of leggings that has a hole in the knee, a pack of patches in your hand, and one question: will this actually hold? It's a fair thing to ask. Most of us have stuck something on a favourite jacket, watched it curl at the corners after one wash, and quietly gone back to the bin.
So here is a short answer. A good repair patch should do four things: bond properly to the fabric, move with it, survive the wash, and take less effort than the problem it fixes. A panel of independent design judges looked at a rub-on patch with those questions in mind, and this post walks through each one so you can run the same checks on any patch you pick up.
What did the Good Design Awards judges look for?
Every entry at the Australian Good Design Awards is judged against three criteria: Good Design, Design Innovation and Design Impact. In other words, does it work well, is it genuinely new, and does it make a real difference for the people who use it.
FabPatch took the top honour in its discipline. Best in Discipline, Fashion and Textiles, 2026 Australian Good Design Awards. Here is what the jury wrote:
"The Jury recognises FabPatch as a brilliantly simple yet high-impact intervention that removes traditional barriers to textile repair through its innovative rub-on application requiring no heat, tools or sewing skills. The solution was commended for addressing the significant challenge of textile waste by making repair accessible, affordable and immediate for diverse users. The Jury was particularly impressed by the intelligent fabrication variations including Merino patches for wool garments... and stretch materials for activewear, demonstrating thoughtful design consideration. The measurable environmental impact of diverting over 1.91 tonnes of textile waste from landfill and preventing more than 15.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2025 demonstrates genuine circular economy outcomes at scale."
The Jury, 2026 Australian Good Design Awards
Two things stand out. The jury noticed that the patch is made in different versions for different fabrics, and it noticed how little the repair asks of you. Both matter when you're deciding whether a patch will hold. You can read the full story on our Good Design Award page, or the original award post.
Check one: does it actually bond to the fabric?
This is the make-or-break question. A patch that sits on top of a fabric will lift. One that bonds into it stays put.
FabPatch has a self-adhesive backing that grips the fabric when you rub it firmly against a hard surface. There's no iron, no needle and no machine involved, which also means no scorched nylon and no melted trims. If you've ever wondered why heat-based patches can go wrong on jackets, our rub-on vs iron-on guide covers it.
The bond only works if the patch suits the fabric. That's why there are different ranges, and why the jury called the variations intelligent. For tents, packs, rain shells and workwear, Extreme is the strong, weatherproof one. For everything else you wear, Stretch is the soft all-rounder. If you're after proof from other people, FabPatch is rated 4.83 from 41 verified customer reviews.
Extreme on a torn jacket, before and after.
When life is tough, so is this patch. Strong and weatherproof for tents, packs and rain shells.
Check two: will it move with the fabric?
Knees bend. Elbows flex. A knit stretches every time you pull it over your head. A stiff patch on a flexible fabric cracks at the edges, and that's usually where a repair starts to fail.
This is where the jury's note about "stretch materials for activewear" earns its place. Stretch is soft and flexible, so it moves with leggings, kids' trackies and denim rather than against them. It's the one we'd point most people to first, and it's the range with the most colours, from Black and Denim through to Camp, Sand and Banksia.
Wool needs its own answer. Merino is soft and fine, so it doesn't stiffen a knit. If your favourite jumper has a hole nobody has got around to, that's the one.
The everyday one. Soft and flexible for knees, denim, leggings and kids' clothes.
Soft as your favourite sweater. Made for merino, wool and fine knits.
Before and after. Same garment, a few days later.
Check three: will it survive the wash?
This is the one people worry about most, and it's the easiest to get right. Give the patch time to set. We recommend leaving a repair for three days before its first wash so the bond can fully settle. After that, FabPatch Stretch is machine washable at 40 degrees (30 degrees for Merino) and water resistant, so it copes with school-week laundry and a wet walk to the car alike.
If a patch brand can't tell you how long to wait before the first wash, that's worth noticing.
Check four: is it really 60 seconds?
A repair that takes an afternoon is a repair that stays in the pile. The jury picked up on this too, praising a rub-on application that needs no heat, tools or sewing skills. Here is the whole job:
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| Pick | Choose the patch that suits the fabric: Stretch, Extreme, Shoe or Merino. |
| Rub | Rub it on firmly against a hard surface. That's 60 seconds, with no iron, no needle and no machine. |
| Back in action | You can wear it immediately, but don't overly stretch it for a few days. Leave it three days before the first wash. |
Which patch passes the test for your repair?
| Your repair | Best patch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Knees in kids' leggings, jeans, activewear | Stretch | Soft and flexible, moves with the fabric |
| Tent, pack, rain shell, workwear | Extreme | Strong and weatherproof |
| Merino jumper, wool cardigan, fine knit | Merino | Soft and fine, won't stiffen a knit |
| Scuffed toe, split seam, worn lining | Shoe Repair | Made for footwear |
Frequently asked questions
Will a rub-on patch really hold?
When it suits the fabric and has been rubbed on firmly, yes. Pick the range that matches what you're mending, rub for the full 60 seconds, and leave it three days before its first wash.
Can I wash clothes with a FabPatch on them?
Yes. They're machine washable at 40 degrees once the patch has set for three days.
Is it only for outdoor gear?
No. Stretch is made for everyday clothes like jeans, leggings and kids' wear, and Merino is made for wool. Extreme is the one for tents, packs and rain shells.
What did the Good Design Awards judges say?
They described FabPatch as a "brilliantly simple yet high-impact intervention" that removes traditional barriers to textile repair. The full comments are above.
Do I need any tools?
No. There's no heat, no needle and no sewing skill involved.
Too good to throw out?
Pick the patch that matches the fabric. Rub it on. Back in rotation.
Find your patch →