Who hasn’t found their heart aching at the thought of throwing in their favorite jeans, torn at the crotch or under the buttock due to recurring friction? Or his pair of canvas Converse, with holes at the heel or even along the sole? The Repairables, a Vendée start-up, are settling in Lyon for three weeks, in the Maison Ma Bille workshops to repair your clothes.
“It’s not about customizing or transforming them,” says Blandine Barré, seamstress and founder from the outset. Repairables. Simply to “bring them back to life” and return them to customers in perfect condition, as if they were almost new. Here, we absolutely want to carry out repairs “as invisible as possible” and “quality” while respecting the design. “We do not distort the work of brands”, supports the young woman.
Repairs ranging from 5 to 50 euros
Coat, jacket, top, bottom, skirts, coveralls, backpack, hat or belts… Everything can be repaired. The prices, depending on the service or the type of clothing, vary from 5 to 50 euros. You just need to order on the dedicated platform. And then come and drop off your clothes on site.
“The idea, through our approach, is to educate people to buy less and to focus on repairs rather than throwing away”, continues the thirty-something, with supporting figures. In France, around 700,000 tonnes of clothing are purchased each year. Or an average of 30 kg per person. Only a quarter is recycled. The rest goes in the trash.
Establishing a lasting presence in Lyon
“We are not here to take the place of seamstresses but to democratize this profession. There is so much to do that there is room for everyone. It is also a way of responding to those who do not have access to a store near their home or who work shifted hours, ”says Blandine Barré who, installed behind her machine, awaits her first customers.
The choice of Lyon is not trivial. “We receive many parcels from Lyon, it seemed obvious to us to set up a workshop here to prevent parcels from crossing France. This saves shipping costs and reduces the impact of the carbon footprint, ”she explains. His project: to open a permanent workshop between Rhône and Saône at the end of 2022.
The Repairables are set up until November 6 in the premises of Maison Ma Bille, located 6e rue d’Enghien (2nd).
5 sites to change the world