SNEAKERS: IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR?

Before talking about a circular economy, there is one step we have all overlooked: repair.

When we launched the VEJA recycling project, we realized that something had escaped our attention: we tend to throw away our shoes when they are damaged or simply worn out. By collecting thousands of used sneakers, we discovered that many of them were actually repairable and cleanable—habits that have disappeared from our daily lives.

In 2022, nearly 24 billion pairs of shoes were manufactured worldwide. Yet, no one repairs them anymore. In the 1950s, France had 50,000 cobblers. By 2023, only 3,000 remained. These cobblers do not repair sneakers, as they are not considered a "noble" product, and the cost of repair is often less attractive than buying a new pair.

THE VEJA COBBLER PROJECT

The most eco-friendly sneakers are the ones you're already wearing. With this in mind, VEJA is launching its cobbler's shops and collection bins from 2020. The aim is to repair all types of footwear, whether VEJA or other brands, and thus extend their lifespan, or recycle them when they are too damaged. 

The project took root in Darwin, an alternative space on Bordeaux's right bank, with our first cobbler's shop. Since then, we've opened seven permanent cobbler's spaces at some of our blinds and partners. At the same time, we've set up a cobbler's shop in a mobile container with Log'ins, the reintegration company in charge of our logistics.
In all, 43,000 pairs of shoes have been repaired since 2020. 

OUR SHOE REPAIR SHOPS

VEJA ALTERATIONS

In February 2024, VEJA took its ambition to rethink our relationship with clothing a step further and opened its first alteration shop in the VEJA General Store. From the simple hem of pants to the replacement of a coat lining and the personalization of garments, everything is made-to-measure, to suit every need.

Every month, over a hundred items are dropped off for repair. Whether haute-couture or fast-fashion, basic or more technical, made in Europe or from the ends of the earth, they all benefit from the attention and expertise of our team. 

OUR ALTERATION SERVICES