Impactcase United Repair Centre
Pioneering through age-old craft
United Repair Centre is a social enterprise with a clear and ambitious mission: to repair the clothing industry. But is it actually broken? Well, it’s working at full capacity. But the way it operates is disastrous for the people in the industry and for the environment on earth. United Repair Centre demonstrates that there’s another way. By repairing clothes, they extend the lifespan of products and create jobs for people who face barriers in the labour market. In this way, they’re helping to build a sustainable and inclusive economy.
An unhealthy clothing industry
With the rise of fast fashion, global garment production has doubled since 2000. Cheap, low-quality clothing is proliferating rapidly, and consumers are discarding it more quickly than they used to. This results in 100 million tonnes of textile waste each year – and that’s not the only problem. The textile industry’s use of pesticides and dyes makes it the second-largest water polluter in the world. Then there are the social conditions in the countries where clothes are produced. In short, the industry is sick, and United Repair Centre is on a mission to make it better. They repair the clothing industry for good, by putting people first, one piece at a time.
Growing pressure
European governments are increasingly realising that the current way of producing clothing is unsustainable. New legislation and regulations, such as the right to repair and the ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, are putting pressure on brands to take responsibility. At the same time, public demand is changing: consumers are increasingly expecting brands to make sustainable choices. Repair is thus slowly but surely shifting from being the exception to becoming the norm.
Making a sustainable and socially responsible impact
United Repair Centre offers a scalable solution for the entire sector. CEO Paul Kerssens explains: “Our mission has three objectives. One is to salvage as much clothing as possible from the textile mountain and extend its lifespan. The second is to create as many positions as possible for people who face challenges on the job market. And the third is to do all that on a large scale, because then you can really have a significant impact.”
From repair to better production
Major brands such as The North Face, Decathlon and Levi’s outsource their repairs to United Repair Centre, which organises and carries out the work. It records, tracks and analyses the repairs on a digital platform, which makes the process efficient and transparent. Brands receive data on why their clothes wear out, how often repairs are required, and what these figures say about their designs. So repair doesn’t just fix problems after they happen but can also serve to prevent them at the production stage.
“One of the things that makes United Repair Centre so extraordinary is that they focus on sustainability within a highly polluting sector. They raise people’s awareness about the clothes they buy and help them to cherish the ones they already own. I once popped in with a jacket that had a tear, andin spite of my initial protests, it was whisked away to the sewing machine and their enthusiastic staff fixed it. They proudly gave it back, and now that jacket is extra special.”
Sanne Bootsma, impact investment manager, DOEN Ventures
From start-up to international player
United Repair Centre began as a spin-off of the Makers Unite workshop (another partner of the DOEN Foundation, and later of DOEN Ventures). At Makers Unite, Amsterdammers and newcomers, including refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, work together to design and create sustainable products with a story behind them. With the same social mission and a focus on repair rather than new production, United Repair Centre launched in 2022 with Patagonia as its first partner. It grew to become an international player within a few years. By the end of 2025, 32 international brands were using its services. Garments are repaired, washed and made ready for use every day at its Amsterdam and London branches. A third hub opened in Paris in April 2026.
Sustainable employment and new skills
United Repair Centre also has an impact on the social front. It currently employs 59 people who have difficulty accessing the mainstream labour market and is training potential new hires through its United Repair Academy. In just a few weeks, unskilled trainees can become certified professionals with the prospect of paid work. The training is essential in a sector where skilled craftsmanship is now in short supply. Thus, United Repair Centre is not only helping to reduce waste but also contributing to long-term employment and integration.
“I’ve learnt so much here. Even though I’ve never learnt to read or write, now I know all the parts of the sewing machine, and I’ve even got a paid job!”
Dolkar, from Tibet, one of the United Repair Academy’s first students in 2024 and a tailor at the United Repair Centre in Amsterdam since 2025
DOEN’s role: facilitator and accelerator
The DOEN Foundation has been involved with Makers Unite, United Repair Centre’s parent organisation, since its inception in 2017. When the United Repair Centre was established, DOEN Ventures took over its supporting role. Partly thanks to its assistance, United Repair Centre has been able to expand beyond the Netherlands. Although growth remains healthy, 2025 was a tense year due to sudden import duties and investor caution. DOEN Ventures has stepped in to keep the organisation running and is helping it to attract additional impact investors. Thus, United Repair Centre can continue to grow, consolidate its position as a pioneer and increase its impact.
“DOEN’s support has been invaluable to us, not only financially but also as a signal to other investors. When DOEN Ventures gets on board, it inspires confidence. At difficult points, they helped us to continue building our business when others gave up. That’s what makes them a unique partner.”
Paul Kerssens, CEO, United Repair Centre
From pioneer to industry standard
United Repair Centre aims to set the European – and ultimately the global – standard for clothing repair. As more fashion brands get on board and broadcast their sustainability aims, repair will become cool. With planned expansion to countries like Germany and Italy, United Repair Centre will be able to serve more customers and repair clothes locally. By 2025, the company had saved 56,000 garments from the rubbish tip – some 50,000kg of textiles, or about 30 shipping containers’ worth. The aim is to repair 1 million items a year by 2030, significantly reducing textile waste. Ultimately, United Repair Centre wants to show that repair can be the norm, and to bring about a shift across the supply chain. Less waste, better products, and more opportunities for people: that’s the future United Repair Centre is creating – stitch by stitch.
DOEN Ventures is able to invest in United Repair Centre thanks to the players of the Postcode Loterij.