Levi_s launches repairs project to empower young people
US denim and apparel company Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) has launched a new clothing repairs initiative aimed at helping high school teens “take fashion into their own hands”.
The Levi_s Wear Longer Project will offer young people hands-on learning_ free digital resources_ and community-based workshops_ designed to share the practical skills needed to extend the life of the clothes they already own.
The initiative follows research from LS&Co. conducted in the US_ which reveals that 41 percent of Gen Z report having no basic repair knowledge_ such as fixing a tear or sewing a button_ which is nearly double the rate of older generations. At the same time_ 35 percent of young people say they would keep their clothes longer if they knew how to fix them.
The project_s curriculum_ targeting students in grades 9 through 12 in the US_ has been developed with global edtech leader Discovery Education and aligned with national K-12 education standards_ and will teach young people how to repair and customise their clothes_ from sewing a button to patching a hole or tailoring a hem.
Michelle Gass_ president and chief executive at Levi Strauss & Co._ said in a statement: “At Levi Strauss & Co._ we_ve spent more than 170 years designing clothes to be worn and loved for as long as possible. The Levi_s Wear Longer Project builds on that legacy by giving young people the confidence and tools to extend the life of what they already own.
“By building up repair skills within the next generation and emphasising the idea of durability_ we_re helping spark a culture of creativity_ sustainability_ and pride in taking care of the things we value.”
Levi Strauss partners with Discovery Education to launch clothing repair resources
The curriculum_ available all year-round_ is available to educators and high school students nationwide on a dedicated free platform_ wearlongerproject.discoveryeducation.com. For schools using Discovery Education Experience_ the cross-curricular supplemental resource_ they can integrate Levi_s Wear Longer Project directly into classroom instruction.
Catherine Dunlop_ senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Discovery Education_ added: “Our partnership with Levi_s reflects the growing demand in schools for curriculum that connects academic learning with real-world_ future-ready skills.
“Through the Wear Longer Project_ students gain hands-on experience that builds confidence_ creativity_ and practical life skills while deepening their understanding of complex topics such as supply chain and resource management. This initiative helps prepare students to be thoughtful_ capable problem-solvers.”
The project will also see LS&Co. employees serving as volunteer ambassadors_ bringing hands-on instruction into schools and local communities. The first of which will take place in Levi_s hometown of San Francisco with a workshop for the city's high school students at the LS&Co. Eureka Lab_ before expanding globally. Additional trainings and workshops will continue throughout the year_ including activations during Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco.
LS&Co. added that as the Levi_s Wear Longer Project grows_ it plans to scale the curriculum through community-based partners and select retail initiatives_ “creating more entry points for young people and employees to engage in repair education”.