The United Repair Centre London (URC London) has opened in Haringey as part of a collaboration between United Repair Centre, Fashion-Enter and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia.
The URC London says it will employ and train people who have challenges finding employment in high-quality clothing repairs. The opening follows the first United Repair Centre, launched in Amsterdam in 2022, as part of a collaboration between Makers Unite, Amsterdam Economic Board and Patagonia.
United Repair Centre Amsterdam currently handles 30,000 repairs per year from brands such as Decathlon, Lululemon and Patagonia. URC London says it will have the capacity to perform 30,000 repairs a year by 2025.
Thami Schweichler, CEO and Founder of United Repair Centre, commented: “The apparel industry has a bad reputation for the harms inflicted on the environment, and the people who make our clothes – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
We must help customers keep their clothes in use for longer and practice conscious consumption.
“We must help customers keep their clothes in use for longer and practice conscious consumption in the future if we are to have a living planet to do business on. And now, with the launch of URC London, we’re making it easy for responsible clothing brands to join the growing repair movement.”
Haringey-based garment production company, Fashion-Enter, has joined as a partner, with URC London operating out of its existing facility and training the team in technical repairs. URC London says Fashion-Enter had faced potential layoffs due to key retailers moving production to cheaper facilities abroad but the new repair centre will protect 15 UK jobs and provide a “bridge” into the circular economy.
The URC London says it has received strategic guidance from the British Fashion Council’s Institute of Positive Fashion and circular economy support from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The shop will initially provide repairs for Patagonia’s UK-based customers, with three additional brands lined up to join the facility in within the next 12 months.
Speaking about the opening, Alex Beasley, Country Manager, UK, Ireland & Nordics, Patagonia, said: “At Patagonia, we’re in business to save our home planet. But we know we can’t do this alone.
“With the launch of United Repair Centre London, we are looking to dramatically scale our impact and empower other clothing companies to move away from disposability and waste, and weave circularity into their business models.”
