Dr Martens to Offer Repairs in Sustainability Step

FILE PHOTO: People walk past a Dr. Martens store in Manchester, Britain, May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past a Dr. Martens store in Manchester, Britain, May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo
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Dr Martens to Offer Repairs in Sustainability Step

FILE PHOTO: People walk past a Dr. Martens store in Manchester, Britain, May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past a Dr. Martens store in Manchester, Britain, May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo

Dr Martens plans to launch a shoe repair service in Britain next month as it seeks to polish its sustainability credentials, encourage customers to extend the life of their boots, and create a new revenue stream.
The London-listed maker of leather boots, shoes and sandals is currently testing the service with its employees, CEO Kenny Wilson said in an interview. The British launch is a pilot, with a view to expanding the service to continental Europe, Reuters reported.
Even if the repair service displaces some demand as people opt for repairing their boots over buying a new pair, Wilson said the service would bring benefits overall.
"Could it potentially lose us some business short term? Yes, but we think about it long-term, therefore we think it will breed customer loyalty, and it's the right thing to do," he said.
"I get letters from people every week saying can I get my DMs repaired," he added.
Dr Martens is working with The Boot Repair Company in the northern English city of Leeds to offer repairs.
To replace worn-out soles on a pair of boots - a procedure that requires taking the whole boot apart - customers would pay 81 pounds ($100.50), Wilson said, while other repairs would likely be less expensive. That compares with 169 pounds ($209.68) for a new pair of Dr Martens 1460 boots.
Overall, Wilson said he sees a big opportunity in the second-hand market for Dr Martens, with the potential to grow to a tenth of group revenue. In May last year, the company launched a resale service with second-hand marketplace Depop.
Clothing and footwear brands around the world, including Zara and H&M, are seeking a toehold in the resale market as more sustainability-conscious young shoppers opt for second-hand over new.



Saudi 100 Brands Returns to Paris Fashion Week

Saudi 100 Brands Returns to Paris Fashion Week
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Saudi 100 Brands Returns to Paris Fashion Week

Saudi 100 Brands Returns to Paris Fashion Week

The Saudi Fashion Commission will present homegrown talents at Paris Fashion Week, held from June 24 to 27 on the fifth floor of La Samaritaine. The exclusive showroom dedicated to Saudi 100 Brands will highlight 11 trailblazing designers and their Spring–Summer 2026 collections.

This exceptional showcase, spearheaded by the Fashion Commission and its flagship Saudi 100 Brands program, aims to foster meaningful cultural exchange through contemporary Saudi fashion, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. It represents a key step in a long-term vision to establish the Kingdom as an essential presence in the global fashion industry.

CEO of the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture Burak Çakmak said that the return of the Saudi 100 Brands program to Paris Fashion Week reflects a commitment to showcasing Saudi creativity at the highest levels.

He noted that the platform not only presents designers to a global audience but also deepens connections with the international fashion community, reinforcing the vision of making the Kingdom a driving force in shaping the future of fashion and fostering meaningful global partnerships.

CEO of Tranoï Boris Provost stated that Saudi fashion is experiencing remarkable momentum, expressing pride in the creative energy showcased by the Saudi 100 Brands program at Tranoï.

According to SPA, he highlighted the exhibition's role in presenting emerging talents on a global scale, noting that the collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission perfectly embodies this mission by providing an international stage for a new generation of designers in Paris, the fashion capital of the world.

The Saudi 100 Brands program is a long-term strategic initiative by the Saudi Fashion Commission. It aims to support generations of Saudi brands and contribute to the development of a sustainable local fashion industry.