The Gore-Tex brand has unveiled what it says is the “next step in its commitment to keeping its outerwear in action for longer” in a UK link-up with United Repair Centre (URC).

The repair specialist has been added to its roster of authorised repair centres, based on Gore-Tex’s principle that “the most sustainable piece of clothing is the one you already own”.

It’s aiming to reduce the footprint of each item of clothing and limit material waste in the fashion and outdoor industries.  

The partnership with London-based URC works via a four-step process with the customer asked to provide more info about the product and the repair request. They’ll then receive a cost estimate based on these details. Next, the repair is booked and the customer sends in their Gore-tex item(s). 

Once received, the product undergoes an evaluation and necessary repairs are completed within five days. Finally, the customer will receive an email notification when the product is ready to be returned. 

It comes as more and more brands introduce repair services as part of their overall approach to sustainability. Just a couple of months ago, for instance, Save Your Wardrobe (SYW) — an AI-powered wardrobe management app — and URC announced they were collaborating, with the latter becoming the service partner on the former’s dedicated platform, “offering consumers and brands easy-to-book repair and care services”.

And a few months before that, retail giant M&S launched a dedicated clothing repair service in partnership with Sojo, while John Lewis launched a repair trial in a deal with Timpson Group.