In today’s fast-paced world, amidst a cost of living crunch and a concern for the environment, there’s an increasing appetite to repair, reuse, and recycle our cherished belongings – from clothes, homewares and electronics, furniture, and everything in between. According to Roy Morgan, 12.2 million Australians are buying second-hand items and 9.
3 million are selling items online instead of sending them to landfill. This is part of a global phenomenon called recommerce which, coupled with government legislation is fast becoming a fully-fledged part of retailers’ business models. With the likes of Veja Cobblers offering repairs for shoes of any brand, to RE.
UNIQLO Studio’s Japanese embroidery service that breathes new life into old garments, to the innovative collaborations like Schuh x Vintage Thread— the allure of repaired and upcycled fashion is reaching promising new heights. Locally, RM Williams is long renowned for its commitment to quality boot repairs, to MJ Bale offering a second pair of pants to extend the life of a suit jacket or Nudie Jeans (whilst technically not Australian) offering free repairs for the life of the jeans. Beyond clothing and footwear, through programs like Amazon Renewed and Reselfridges, retailers are repairing, refurbishing, repackaging and reselling products with warrantees to create both environmental and financial benefits.
Even retailers without repair and refurbishing initiatives are involving charities in their returns processe.
