Makers Unite, a creative textile platform, and Patagonia, an outerwear brand, have collaborated to open the United Repair Centre (URC) in Amsterdam, offering clothing repair services as an alternative to buying new.
According to a press release shared by both Patagonia and Makers Unite, the centre aims to perform 300,000 clothing repairs per year, saving one million kilograms of textile waste, and will be open to any brands interested in becoming members as well as Patagonia.
Consumers who bought products from a URC member will be able to contact the brand to arrange for the product to be repaired at the URC facility and returned to the customer to be worn again.
Patagonia and Makers Unite hope that the centre will inspire brands to incorporate repair and reuse into their business models in order to reduce the negative impact of the textile industry.
Commenting on the launch of the hub, Thami Schweichler, Managing Director and Co-founder, Makers Unite, said “The fashion industry is at the beginning of a new era. An era where repairs and other new services will make more impact.”
