Repairs in Retail

Answer this question, and be honest. Have you ever thrown away something that could be repaired? For most of us, the answer is a resounding yes. But have you ever wanted to repair your gear and didn’t know where to start? Probably, also a yes. And it’s understandable. Our society places convenience above conservation. Replacing instead of repairing. And this needs to change. But how?

We don’t pretend to have all the answers. And we can’t solve all these problems alone. But we can play our part. That’s why we’re making it easier than ever before to repair your Patagonia gear. All you need to do is visit one of our stores. It’s that simple. And why shouldn't it be?

For those in Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam or Milan, you can bring your busted gear to one of our permanent in-house repair stations. Our team of expert in-store fixers are ready to roll up their sleeves and get down to the business of repairing your gear. If you’re unable to visit one of our five in-store repair centers, don’t worry! You can still arrange for your gear to be repaired by visiting any European Patagonia store. Simply bring your item needing repair to your nearest retail store and our team will walk you through the process. They’ll prepare your item for repair and get your gear ready for shipping to one of our EU repair centers—where your item will be fixed by expert hands. Then when your repair is complete and ready for collection, we’ll get in touch via email or phone.

If you choose to bring an item for repair, your gear will be lovingly restored using materials that match your item as closely as possible. Sometimes, exact matches aren’t always possible and repairs may be visible. Yet this isn't a bad thing. Your repaired gear tells a story—its visible repair remains as a reminder to the adventures gone wrong. A perceptible scar that marks the start of an extra chapter for your gear. Sadly, not all issues can be fixed—sometimes an item is just too well-loved that it is beyond repair. If this happens, our team will be in touch to provide end-of-life recycling options.

Repairing the things we own may not come naturally to most of us. Yet when we fix an item of clothing, replace a broken buckle, or even sew on a new button, we’re fixing our relationship with the things we own. Reducing our need to keep producing. Repairing what was once so readily replaced. Repaired items will never be perfect—but it was this quest for perfection that made us forget the value of repairs in the first place. Repair your gear in-store today. Replace your gear only when it can no longer be repaired.

Give gear a second chance

Between 2016 and 2018, countless well-loved and worn out pieces of Patagonia gear were given a second chance in Europe—saved from landfill by our expert fixers. Repaired and restored, these items were made available to the public at pop-up stores in London, Berlin and Milan. At these events, we saw first hand the insatiable appetite of our customers for real alternatives to buying new.

That’s why, since 2022, a permanent Worn Wear space selling pre-loved and patched up gear was made available to customers visiting our Berlin store. If you find yourself in Germany’s creative capital city, come check out the selection of gear that’s been fixed by expert hands—ready for a new life and many more adventures!

Currently, our Worn Wear space gives insulated jackets and vests, shells, fleeces and parkas a second life–but we’re not stopping there. Every month, more gear is added to our in-store Worn Wear offerings that are quickly snapped up by an audience ravenous for not-new products. If you’re looking for a specific style, color or size, our in-store crew will do everything in their power to find it for you. And if they can’t find what you’re searching for, they’ll offer the next best option or try to find another solution.

Reimagining our relationship with the things we own should be a life-long process. That’s why we’re bringing kids & baby clothes into this new model of consumption and ownership. Changing the next generation’s attitude to be less wasteful and more thoughtful. Less consumptive and more communal. That’s the Worn Wear way—Repair and Reuse. And whilst Worn Wear is currently only available in our Berlin store, don’t panic! We have big plans. Pre-loved Patagonia gear will be coming to stores near you soon, bringing more than just a positive environmental impact with it.

Working together with the United Repair Center in Amsterdam, we’re fixing more than just clothes and gear. Combining our quest for circularity with our responsibility to make a positive social impact, items are sent to a repair center that provides training and employment opportunities to young adults and newcomers with a refugee background. This means Patagonia products purchased through our Worn Wear program not only save good gear from landfill—they’re making a positive social impact too!

Each Worn Wear item that has been lovingly repaired comes with more than just a history. It comes with a future too. Because all Worn Wear items are covered by our Ironclad Guarantee. This means if your gear gets damaged—because the best adventures don’t always go to plan—you can bring it back to the store for another repair. Keeping your stuff in play as long as possible is one of the most responsible things we can do as consumers. Our Worn Wear program is here to help you do that. Fixing the holes in your not-so-new gear’s story again, and again and again...