News article

H&M Group saves damaged garments in first ever Restore Collection

The Laboratory and COS have partnered up with The Renewal Workshop to make a “first of its kind” collection, consisting of former unsellable clothing that been mended and brought back to the assortment.

The collection consists of restored pieces that have been sourced from COS own supply-chain or returned by customers. The selected items have been carefully mended and cleaned by our partner The Renewal Workshop making them suitable to sell again. 

“The ‘Restore’ collection is an important test to stretch our thinking around new Business Models for a Circular Economy. We have a big responsibility with the scale and impact we currently have on the environment and this test is one example of many where we are exploring new solutions. It is essential we ideate new solutions for a lower impact on our environment whilst offering customers quality, beautiful products that last”.

Laura Coppen, Circular and Sustainable Business Development  The Laboratory, H&M Group

 

By taking care of already existing garments, we want to extend the lifespan of our products and make sure to use what otherwise would be considered as excess products. Working towards our sustainability commitment and our vision to become fully circular, this test collection demonstrates H&M Group’s journey to explore new business models to become even more sustainable and lower our impact on the environment.

We carefully select our partners, and The Renewal Workhop is a leading provider of circular solutions for textile brands, which aligns with H&M Groups circularity vision. As an example, the cleaning process for the items in this collection, uses state of the art waterless technology, which saves water and leaves no water contaminated.  

 “Collaboration is key for H&M Group to be able to achieve our sustainability commitments. We partnered up with The Renewal Workshop, a leading provider of circular solutions for apparel and textile brands”.

Laura Coppen, Circular and Sustainable Business Development The Laboratory, H&M Group

 

Thanks to impact data collected from a third party, we have the chance to see exactly how much water, Co2, and energy we save by rescuing these products and making this collection. This information will also be displayed publicly in the stores where the collection will be sold.

The Restore collection is launched on the 4th of September and will be available exclusively in three COS stores located in Berlin, Stockholm and Utrecht.