Sorry -- "rec" for Sam Torrey LOL - not Rex!

Another Rex for Sam Torrey. He's amazing. And he has repaired zippers on most of my suitcases over the last 15 years. Much cheaper than buying new ones!

No, beleive it or not a shoe repair person would be the best to repair it. They also repair things like soft sided luggage, leather goods, pretty much anything that needs extremely strong stitching like you would need with shoes or boots. The new zipper itself you might have to buy before hand.

Thanks all. LL Bean offered to replace, but it wouldn't be the same print which she loves so if it isn't outrageously expensive I'm willing to fix it.

Have use Sam for shoes, will drop it by and see what he thinks. Thanks DCUM for being a resource, and not always a source of meanness and entertainment!

They probably can, but at the cost you might as well be better off just buying a new one. I replaced a zipper for a coat and it cost me 40$ in DC.

Yes, They can put in a whole new zipper. Done this twice with expensive coats I bought from the thrift store.

Yes, a good tailor can replace it.

Anonymous wrote:Take it to Sam Torrey at Lee Highway and George Mason Dr. The company does shoe repairs and would be a better bet than a tailor.

+1 (or tell L.L.Bean what you posted in the original post, and they'll likely send you a new backpack and new lunchbox. )

Take it to Sam Torrey at Lee Highway and George Mason Dr. The company does shoe repairs and would be a better bet than a tailor.

The zipper on my daughter's LLBean backpack has broken. LL Bean is obviously happy to replace it, but they have discontinued that particular print, which she loves because it matches her lunchbox so I'd love to try and fix it before just buying a new one.

Can a good tailor work with this sort of situation? Part of the material is caught in the zipper, and the zipper has split in two, if that all makes sense.

We are in Arlington, and I'd welcome a recommendation for a tailor who might do that sort of work.