Clothing repair is coming to Marks & Spencer (M&S) this summer, with the launch of ‘M&S Fixed by Sojo’.
The retailer has teamed up with fast-growing repair business Sojo – which recently took permanent space in Selfridges’ Oxford Street store – to offer an online service to help consumers keep their clothing in circulation and use for longer. It will be available from August.
The partnership is supported by the £1 million M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund, which was announced earlier this year as part of the retailer’s plan to support a more circular economy in the UK.
Working with Sojo marks the first time M&S has offered a dedicated clothing repair service, and it comes as the retailer brings together its circular offerings under one single name. Dubbed ‘Another life’, the platform of services includes a beauty takeback scheme which is supported by Handle and its long-running Oxfam partnership which helps recycle used clothes – and now Sojo clothing repair.
Several 60-second ‘how to’ videos covering tips and ideas around debobbling knitwear, adjusting hemlines, and much more have been created by M&S’s team of in-house technical experts to provide inspiration and advice to consumers looking to keep garments in circulation.
Sojo was founded in 2021 by Josephine Philips, and the company is on a mission to make tailoring and repairs more accessible.
M&S customers will be able to select and book a range of bespoke repair services – from zip replacements to knitwear mending all through one online form powered by Sojo. Repair prices start from £5, and the clothing is sent to Sojo and returned within seven to ten days.
Richard Price, managing director of clothing & home at M&S, commented: “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.”
Philips added: “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 will truly bring easy, accessible and convenient repairs to the masses.”
[image credit: Green Retail World]
