I don't have any holes all the way through my vest, but I did have on strap come loose, and the leg flaps were hanging loose, so I just dropped it off at an upholstery shop and they had it fixed up in about 30 minutes and charged me $15.00. He sewed the strap back on, and the leg flaps, then just sewed a random pattern along some of the tears in the outer fabric. I really don't think he used any type of special thread, just the same stuff he uses for boat seat cushions.
thank you