Outdoor clothing company Patagonia is ‘placing the power of repair into the hands of customers’ with its new online returns portal in an effort to promote a circular fashion economy among both the industry and the general public.
Following its long-standing dedication to clothing repair, Patagonia has begun a new chapter for its activities in Europe. Customers will be able to check the progress of their repairs and immediately request repairs through the ‘Repair Portal’ at any time.
The company is also putting more repair products and services into stores in addition to extending its European network of fixers and launching the online programme. In the following five years, the retailer wants to raise repairs to 100,000 annually.
In comparison to purchasing something new, using a product for an additional nine months reduces carbon, waste, and water footprints by 20–30 per cent.
Willem Swager, Director of Finance and Operations at Patagonia, commented, “We need a new, regenerative model and structural change if we are to stand any chance of cleaning up the dirty industry of apparel.”
Through the Worn Wear initiative, Patagonia has been educating customers for the past 12 years about the benefits of extending the lifespan of their clothes. For instance, the business ran a ‘Don’t Buy This Jacket’ advertisement on Black Friday in the New York Times.
Patagonia and Makers Unite, a brand-new repair company created to support various apparel businesses, teamed last year. In addition to other European locations scheduled for next year, the initiative intends to open a second location in the UK in 2023.
