Patagonia repeats appeal to repair, not buy new
27/11/2015
Customers can make use of online information with advice on repairs, or they can send garments to Patagonia to fix.
Rose Macario said: “As individual consumers, the single best thing we can do for the planet is to keep our stuff in use longer. This simple act of extending the life of our garments through proper care and repair reduces the need to buy more over time – thereby avoiding the CO2 emissions, waste output and water usage required to build it.
“Why is repair such a radical act? Fixing something we might otherwise throw away is almost inconceivable to many in the heyday of fast fashion and rapidly advancing technology, but the impact is enormous. I tell you this as CEO of a clothing company that despite a deep commitment to responsible manufacturing still takes more from the earth than it returns.
“At Patagonia, we work hard to make high-quality, responsibly sourced clothing that lasts for years and can be repaired – and we guarantee it for life. We operate the largest garment repair facility in North America (we’ll do more than 40,000 individual repairs this year) and we’ve trained our retail staff to handle the simple repair jobs (which total thousands more). This holiday season, we’ve partnered with iFixit to publish more than 40 free repair guides for Patagonia products on our website. We go to great lengths to provide our customers with opportunities to fix their gear themselves, find it a new home or recycle it if necessary.
“As part of the transaction, we ask our customers to use the tools we provide to decrease the environmental impact of their stuff over time by repairing it, finding ways to reuse it, recycling it when it’s truly ready. By buying only what they need, customers can reduce their overall consumption in the long run. A purchase becomes an investment that saves money – and helps save the planet – over time.
“It’s a radical thought, but change can start with just a needle and thread.”
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