M&S is offering customers a clothing repair service for the first time as part of its Plan A roadmap to a more sustainable economy.
The moves comes as M&S research shows only 10% of the population is confident enough to repair clothing themselves, while 60% of consumers look for retailers to offer more services which support them to lower their carbon footprint.
The move also comes amid rising levels of textile waste. According to climate action NGO, in the UK alone, 1.6 billion items of clothing in our wardrobes are not being worn – an average of 31 items per person.
The retail giant is partnering with clothing repair and alterations experts, Sojo, on the ‘M&S fixed by SOJO’ hub, which will launch in August.
It will support M&S customers to give their clothes ‘another life’ and aims to reduce textile waste, a key pillar of the retailer’s Plan A roadmap to drive the circular economy.
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The partnership is supported by the £1m Plan A Accelerator Fund as the the retailer commits to investing in driving the circular economy.
M&S managing director of clothing & home, Richard Price, commented: “At M&S, exceptional quality products are at the heart of everything we do, and we want to ensure that all our clothes are too good to waste.
“Through the launch of our repair service, we’re making it even easier for customers to give their clothes Another life, whether they are using our new repair service or long-standing clothes recycling scheme.”
Sojo founder Josephine Phillips, commented: “It has always been a core mission of ours at Sojo to make repairing clothes mainstream and to extend the life of as many garments as possible. I’m so excited that M&S has chosen to launch a repair service with us at Sojo as it’s an incredibly big step towards that mission.
“As a brand that has remained a firm constant in almost every household and wardrobe in Britain, this partnership with truly bring easy, accessible and convenient repairs to the masses.
“Beyond that, as one of the longest standing British brands, having M&S join our Pledge to Repair adds such a great weight to our call for industry-wide change here in the UK.”
