Care & repair arrives at Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter and The Outnet in The Seam deal

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 1, 2023

In another sign that repair is one of the key trends for 2023, YNAP said on Wednesday that its in-season and off-price e-tailers Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter and The Outnet are launching their first dedicated customer care & repair offers to extend the life of luxury products.

The webstores are working with clothing repairs and alterations service The Seam on the initiative with Net-A-Porter launching it this month, and the other two e-tailers following soon after in the spring.

It’s a big move that reflects the growing importance of repair services and is also key for The Seam as it’s that company’s first-ever partnership in luxury retail.

The company “will leverage its extensive network of local makers across the UK” and was selected “for its personal approach to care & repair, having brought together a specialised group of makers” to serve customers of the three high-end webstores. 

The customer offer includes clothing alterations and repairs, bespoke customisations, and care & repair for handbags, footwear, and jewellery. YNAP said most services will be completed within seven-to-10 days and an express service is also on offer, subject to availability.

This launch takes the three brands deeper into their circularity journey that has also included entering resale in a deal with Reflaunt. This has been growing in recent periods and will be further expanded this year.

YNAP interim CEO Alison Loehnis said: “We believe that beautiful fashion from past seasons can be a building block of our customers’ future wardrobes. [We] are renowned for curating the most exciting luxury fashion and we take pride in offering tips and tools to make these pieces last. Our care & repair service, in partnership with The Seam, is designed to ensure that the pieces our customers buy from us can be cherished for years to come.”

And The Seam founder Layla Sargent added: “We're dedicated to shaping an industry where the experience of fashion isn't just about consuming, but about participating in a culture of care. Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter and The Outnet’s adoption of The Seam's technology echoes this intention and demonstrates the business potential of care & repair.”