Marks and Spencer (M&S) is set to launch a clothing repair service in response to the growing demand for sustainable fashion and reuse.
The high street giant has teamed up with Sojo, a specialist repair and tailoring business established in 2021, to offer this service via its website.
Customers will be able to utilise the M&S Fixed by Sojo Online Hub to book services ranging from zip replacements to knitwear mending.
The retailer announced that repairs will start from £5 and involve M&S clothes being sent off, repaired, and returned to customers within 10 days.
Richard Price, the managing director of clothing and home at M&S, stated: “At M&S, exceptional quality products are at the heart of everything we do, and we want to ensure that all our clothes are too good to waste.”
Josephine Philips, the founder and CEO of Sojo, expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating: “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.
“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.”
This development comes amidst what is being touted as a repair revolution, with alteration apps like Sojo and The Seam flourishing.
M&S joins an expanding list of businesses offering in-house mending services, including Mulberry, Barbour and Uniqlo.
In other news, M&S have recently opened a new food hall in Sidcup, London, on June 19; another in Friern, Barnet, is expected to open in August 2024.
Twelve stores will also undergo modernisation, including M&S stores in Blackheath, Chancery Lane, Teddington and Islington.
Sacha Berendji, operations director at M&S, said: “We cannot wait to bring the magic of M&S to even more customers across the capital.
“Expanding our presence in London is a key part of our growth strategy – our market share in food is higher here than any region in England and there is plenty of untapped potential.”