Marks and Spencer (M&S) is set to launch a clothing repair service, a move driven by the increasing demand for sustainable fashion practices and the re-use of clothing. Teaming up with Sojo, a repair and tailoring specialist founded in 2021, M&S will offer this service through its website. Customers can access the M&S Fixed by Sojo Online Hub to book repairs ranging from zip replacements to knitwear mending.
The retailer has confirmed that repair services will start at £5. M&S clothes will be sent off for repair, and customers can expect to receive their repaired items within 10 days. Richard Price, M&S’s managing director of clothing and home, emphasized the company’s commitment to quality and sustainability, stating, “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 enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting its potential to bring repair services to a wider audience. “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,” she said. “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 move by M&S aligns with the growing trend of repair services, with apps like Sojo and The Seam gaining popularity. Other businesses, including Mulberry, Barbour, and Uniqlo, are also offering in-house mending services. The partnership is expected to contribute to the broader goal of promoting sustainability in the fashion industry.
Meanwhile, M&S continues its expansion strategy, opening a new food hall in Sidcup, London, on June 19th, with plans to open another in Friern, Barnet, in August 2024. The company is also modernizing twelve stores, including locations in Blackheath, Chancery Lane, Teddington, and Islington. Sacha Berendji, M&S’s operations director, stated, “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.”
