Most suits are glued and stitched. Should the stitching fail it is essential to repair as soon as possible. The stitching is the real strength of the seam and without it your garment has a real weak spot that can tear easily.
We have all types of sewing machine including blind stitch machines which are used extensively in the manufacture of high quality suits. Hand stitching is also sometimes used, where machining is not possible or may prove a risk to the suit.
Wetsuits are amazing garments, using your body heat they are able to keep you warm by keeping the small amount of water between you and the suit warm. Should the neoprene tear, too much water will flush into the suit reducing the efficiency. It is important to ensure any tears are repaired as soon as possible. A split seam on a Triathlon Suit will reduce efficiency straight away and can easily get worse. Using specialist neoprene adhesives and catalysts, we are able to repair seams to the standard they were made. We do not use black hard adhesive that can damage suits. Suits are then sewn back together and where necessary reinforced with heat tape.
Where an accident has damaged the neoprene by tearing it is not possible to simply glue. We use a press to cut an accurate hole around the damage, with the same press a plug is cut. This plug can then be glued in place, machined and taped if necessary. This type of repair has been used several times where suits have been chewed by rodents.
Where serious wear has taken place, neoprene becomes very thin and will eventually tear. There is no need to purchase a new suit. By inserting a hand cut panel the suit will give you years more use. This is a common repair for arms and crutch panels which receive a great deal of stress.
Occasional wear, tear or damage can result in the need for a whole new panel. This can be carried out, and if required a different panel type can be fitted with harder wearing qualities or more stretch depending on your needs.