LONDON — Sojo, the digital-first B-Corp certified fashion-tech platform, launched Pledge to Repair at the annual Institute of Positive Fashion forum on Thursday, an initiative calling for a reduction of textile waste and an increased circularity through repair.
Launched in 2020 by the British Fashion Council, the IPF aims to drive circularity within the U.K. fashion industry. Its annual forum focuses on hosting workshops, panel discussions and conversations meant to spark positive environmental change through fashion.
At the IPF Forum, Josephine Philips, Sojo’s founder, called for signatories to join the Pledge to Repair. The pledge targets three pillars: fashion businesses, circularity business champions and citizens.
Sojo asks for the commitments to advocate for, offer and use repair services as a way of extending the life of clothes and eliminating fabric waste.
“Since launch, at Sojo we have been focused on what we can do as a business to drive change; the pledge is our effort to create a collective industrywide movement, going beyond individual partnerships to build a collaborative coalition with the potential of influencing policy on a governmental level. It is through collective action and legislation that true change will happen at the speed it needs to,” said Philips.
Since launching in 2021, Sojo has been offering customers repair services as well as advising e-commerce fashion brands on how to be more circular. It has closely worked with the likes of Ganni, Nanushka, Ahluwalia — all of which have signed the Pledge to Repair, alongside Rejina Pyo, Peachy Den, Damson Madder and luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective.
“Our partnership with Sojo and commitment to the Pledge to Repair initiative empowers our customers with tailoring and repair services, furthering our commitment to reducing waste and overconsumption,” said Fanny Moizant, president and cofounder of Vestiaire Collective.
