Care & Repair research project in full swing

Three design directions, three coalitions

In the coming months, three coalitions will be working on specific design directions:

1. Strengthening repair within the warranty period
How can professional repair within the warranty period become a reliable, attractive and economically viable option?
Coalition: Fabriek Fris, Modint, Livera, America Today, Mended
Lead: Sina Steidinger (Mended)

2. Creating new value for cleaned and repaired clothing
How can care and repair services give clothing new economic, ecological and practical value within larger clothing flows?
Coalition: Fornet, Leemans & Wicker, Le Nouveau Chef
Lead: Lieve Dam (ArtEZ)

3. Encouraging a broader care & repair culture
How can the knowledge held by partners be made accessible to a wider audience, with attention to motivation, capacity and opportunity?
Coalition: Modestraat, Milieu Centraal, House of Denim, New Order of Fashion, Miele, Leemans & Wicker
Leads: Caroline Couch (ArtEZ) and Maaike Feitsma (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences)

Within these coalitions, partners work closely together. In addition, consortium meetings are organised to share insights and discuss progress.
 

Looking back: insights from phase 1

The three design directions are based on research carried out during the first phase of the project. Researchers from ArtEZ University of the Arts and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences mapped the behaviour of end users and the perspectives of various stakeholders.

This was done through methods including literature review, interviews, workshops, surveys and case studies. The insights from this research have now been combined with input from partners in fashion practice and industry. Work is currently underway to make these results publicly available.

A first glimpse

One early insight from the research is that people’s motivation to repair, or have clothing repaired, varies considerably. For some, sustainability plays a major role, while for others cost savings or emotional value are more decisive. This diversity of motivations offers important starting points for the interventions being developed in phase 2.
 

Future Studies by students

During the kick-off, Product Design students from ArtEZ University of the Arts presented their speculative Future Studies: explorations of possible futures in which care & repair has become a natural part of everyday life.

Among other things, they explored:

• a kit for building a washing machine
• a scent-based test set to recognise and train ‘good’ washing behaviour
• a concept for a television programme about repair

The projects were presented in an exhibition designed as a ‘launderette of the future’: an inspiring glimpse of what may be possible.

In the coming period, ideas developed within the coalitions will be further refined into concrete concepts and interventions.