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FROM OCTOBER, THE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING FINANCIAL HELP TO THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR CLOTHES REPAIRED RATHER THAN THROWING THEM AWAY People in France will soon be able to get financial help

towards the cost of mending old clothes. It is part of a government drive to fight the impact of fast fashion and the energy-intensive clothing industry. Around 700,000 tonnes of clothing

currently ends up in landfill in France every year, according to Bérangère Couillard, France’s junior ecology minister. The €154 million scheme, set to launch in October, will offer between

€6-25 in aid for repairs. If you plan to take advantage of the scheme, here is some - hopefully - handy vocabulary to help you at the tailors. TAILLEUR (TAILOR) A good place to start is with

the word itself, which is actually very similar to the English. Tailleur comes from the verb tailler which means to cut fabric. Similarly, taille means size in terms of clothing, but can

also mean height in other contexts. COUTURIER (COUTURIER) Another word that exists in English. The French word to stitch is coudre and couture means fashion. So a couturier can stitch

clothes in almost any fashion! Think _haute couture_! There is an important distinction between a tailleur and a couturier: A tailleur can taylor-make whole outfits, whereas a couturier will

stitch up anything. A couturier is more likely to repair clothes. Read also: Property, tax, repair bonus: What changes in France in July FAIT SUR MESURE (MADE TO MEASURE) If you are looking

for something tailormade, watch out for the phrase _fait sur mesure_ - which translates to ‘made to measure’. RÉPARER (TO REPAIR HARD THINGS), REPRISER (TO REPAIR SOFT THINGS) To talk about

a pair of shoes, you use réparer. Whereas for something like socks, on the other hand, you would say _il faut repriser ses chaussettes avant la soirée_ (his socks must be repaired before

the party). La reprise refers to the mended part of the clothing, for example:_ On peut à peine voir la reprise_ (you can hardly see the repair). It also refers to the act of fixing, so_ une

reprise rapide_ would be a quick repair. RACCOMMODER (TO MEND) This verb is used to talk about mending clothes: _je cherche quelqu’un à raccommoder mes vêtements _(I'm looking for

someone to mend my clothes). FAIRE DES RETOUCHES À + ITEM OF CLOTHING (MAKE ALTERATIONS TO + ITEM OF CLOTHING) If you want something altered, you can ask the tailleur to faire des retouches

à the item of clothing you would like altered. For example,_ ‘Si c’est possible, pourriez-vous faire des retouches à ma robe avant mardi, s’il vous plaît ?_ (If possible could you alter my

dress before Tuesday, please?) Read also: Explainer: French insurance’s legal help cover and how it can be used FERMETURE ÉCLAIR (ZIP) Broken zips are one of the most frustrating reasons to

have to get rid of a piece of clothing, but also one that can be among the easiest to fix. In French, a zip is called _une fermeture éclair_. For example: _la fermeture éclair est cassée_

(the zip is broken). Along similar lines, _un bouton_ is a button and _un fermoir_ or _une boucle_ is a clasp. UN ACCROC (A TEAR) _Un accroc _is a tear in a piece of clothing, while _une

déchirure_ is a bigger rip. For example: Mon nouveau pull a_ déjà un accroc !_ (My new jumper already has a tear/snag) _Des jeans avec des déchirures_ are ripped jeans, for example. REFAIRE

LE TALON (REDO THE HEEL) _Refaire le talon de mes chaussures_ means to reheel my shoes, for which you can receive a €7 discount from October. DOUBLER If you want something relined, you can

use the verb doubler, or _mettre une nouvelle doublure à quelque chose_ (to put a new lining in something) on _un manteau_ (a coat) for example. UNE REMISE This is where the money is! _Une

remise_ is a discount, as is _une reduction_. RELATED ARTICLES Advisory service resolves Britons' financial problems in France The northern French city experiencing an industrial

renaissance France will soon begin paying part of people’s clothing repair bills