Clothing makers face pressure to improve their environmental record and are now offering repair services to customers. Zara plans to launch repairs in major markets, Uniqlo adds repair studios to stores, and H&M’s Cos collaborates with a startup to help fix damaged apparel.
In April, Sephora introduced ‘Beauty (Re) Purposed,’ a program targeting hard-to-recycle packaging waste in the beauty industry. Similarly, H&M initiated ‘Close the Loop,’ encouraging customers to deposit unwanted clothing in in-store recycling bins and receive a coupon for their next purchase. To date, the project has amassed over 155,000 tons of textiles.
During this spring, Lululemon collaborated with Australian recycling company Samsara Eco to transform apparel waste from their athletic garments’ production into recycled nylon and polyester, which they then used to produce new clothing.
In another move towards sustainable practices in the clothing industry, Japan Airlines recently launched a rental clothing service named ‘Any Wear, Anywhere,’ catering to foreign tourists and business travellers.
The program service, currently undergoing a trial this summer, enables passengers to order their chosen outfits online before their journey. The rental clothing is then delivered to their hotel or Airbnb accommodation before their arrival and later collected at the trip’s end for washing and recycling.
In the realm of fashion, a WSJ report features Alex Brinck, a London-based repairer who quotes prices ranging from US $ 19 to US $ 255 per job, even taking on intricate tasks like repairing a crystal-encrusted Gucci cocktail dress worth nearly US $ 4,000.
