The Worn Wear Tour offers outdoor fans the chance to get their garments repaired

The Worn Wear Tour offers outdoor fans the chance to get their garments repaired

Have you just bust a zip on that favourite waterproof jacket?

Or ripped those comfortable trousers while tackling a gnarly scramble?

Help is at hand: outdoor brand Patagonia’s Worn Wear Tour is coming to the UK. The environmentally aware company is setting up its temporary workstations at venues across the country so outdoor fans can have their garments fixed, free of charge.

The company will give advice on how to mend your own worn outdoor clothing. It doesn’t have to be Patagonia – the brand wants users to make their clothing last a lifetime.

It said: “Extending the life of our garments is the single most important thing we can do to lower our impact on the planet.

“This simple act of extending the life of our garments through proper care and repair reduces the need to buy more over time — thereby avoiding the CO2 emissions, waste output, and water usage required to build it.

“Patagonia will be setting up temporary workstations at specific stops around the UK and is offering free repairs on busted zips, rips, tears, buttons, pulls and more.”

The UK leg is part of a wider five-country mission across Europe to extend the life of outdoor enthusiasts’ clothing. It starts on 15 April in the UK and Germany before moving on to other European countries.

Patagonia said: “We all have our favourite pieces of well worn gear. They accumulate character and meaning and, over time, become far greater than the sum of their threads.

“Keeping these things in use for longer brings us happiness and our planet good health. To help you keep your clothing in use for longer we are taking our Patagonia Worn Wear repair team on the road.

“The Worn Wear team will be doing free clothing repairs and teaching you how to fix your gear. All you need to do is bring us your clothing that’s in need of a fix. You can also make use of our tools, supplies and expertise to fix broken gear yourself.

“By keeping your clothing in use just nine additional months, you can reduce the related carbon, waste and water footprint by an estimated 30 per cent.

“Put simply, if it’s broke, fix it!”

Patagonia chief executive Rose Marcario

Patagonia chief executive Rose Marcario

Patagonia chief executive Rose Marcario said: “Let’s all become radical environmentalists.

“This sounds like a big leap, but it’s not. All you need is a sewing kit and a set of repair instructions.

“As individual consumers, the single best thing we can do for the planet is to keep our stuff in use longer. This simple act of extending the life of our garments through proper care and repair reduces the need to buy more over time, thereby avoiding the CO2 emissions, waste output and water usage required to build it.”
UK venues include:

  • 15 and 16 April, Keswick, George Fisher and Nurture Lakeland blogger-fest
  • 17 April, Threshfield, North Yorkshire, Fellsman ultrarunning event
  • 18 and 19 April, Betws-y-Coed, north Wales, Moel Siabod Cafe with Save the Conwy
  • 21 and 22 April, Shrewsbury, High Sports
  • 23 and 24 April, Stevenage, Countryside Ski & Climb
  • 26 and 27 April, London, the Brokedown Palace at Boxpark with Waterkeeper
  • 28 April, London, the Brokedown Palace at Spitalfields Market
  • 30 April and 1st May, Cornwall, Down the Line Surf Shop with Save Our Sands.

More details are on the Patagonia Worn Wear website.

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