Reimagining waste in fashion.
Today is the UN’s International Day of Zero Waste, and this year, we’re talking fashion.
Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste — roughly the equivalent of 649 billion t-shirts — ends up in landfills or incinerators. Meanwhile, the fashion industry churns out 100 million tonnes of new garments, fuelling a culture of consumption. Not only is this fast-fashion model toxic and unsustainable, it also erases the unique stories that our clothing is meant to inherit.
But what if a snagged sleeve, ill-fitting jean, or last-season jacket didn’t mean the end of the story, rather, the beginning of a new chapter?
Whether you grab a needle and thread or visit a local tailor, repairing your clothes is one of the most radical acts of sustainability, and refusal of fashion’s throwaway cycle. And the industry is paying attention. From Patagonia and Nudie Jeans to Ganni and Veja, brands are offering free repair services, proving that fashion’s future can be regenerative.
We take a look at some of the brands keeping clothes in circulation.
Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” program offers free repairs, resale and upcycling.
Customers can also request spare parts for DIY fixes.
GANNI offers free tailoring and repairs through its SOJO partnership.
The service includes alterations and fixes, with door-to-door collection in London and a nationwide postal option in the UK.
Berghaus offers free repairs for life.
If an item is beyond repair, customers can opt for upcycling and get 30% off a new purchase.
VEJA offers a “Clean, Repair and Collect” project.
They offer free repairs for sneakers of any brand as part of their “Repair Friday” initiative.
Nudie Jeans offers free lifetime repairs on all denim.
Worn jeans can be sent in for mend or traded for 20% off a new pair, with repaired denim resold through its Re-use program.
Citizen Wolf offers free lifetime repairs on all its garments.
They also use AI tailoring to offer high-quality, custom-fit t-shirts with low impact fabrics that ensure longevity.
How do you give your clothes a second life?
Share your zero-waste fashion hacks on our instagram page.
