Rugged Thread, outdoor gear repair leader, is expanding its Premier Repair Program (PRP) to Europe. Designed to make US repair easy, predictable, & a fundamental part of businesses, addressing the urgent need for sustainable practices in the outdoor industry.

The scale of textile waste is immense: ~16 mil tons are discarded annually in the US alone. Outdoor products, often made from petrochemical-based materials, contribute to this environmental crisis persisting in landfills and polluting waterways, missing a crucial opportunity for a circular economy.

Current standards of repair often stop at warranty, which covers only a fraction of real-world damage like rips, broken zippers, & everyday wear. This keeps repair programs small & transactional, failing to unlock the full sustainability, design & value a comprehensive program can deliver.

The Rugged Thread PRP offers a transformative, comprehensive approach for brands, turning repair into a business advantage. Advantages Include:

Enhanced Customer Loyalty: Repair builds deeper customer trust, demonstrating a commitment to quality & authenticity

Sustainability Leadership: Extending a product’s life by 9-months reduces its environmental impact by 20-30%. PRP provides measurable, reportable results that contribute directly to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals

Operational Ease & Predictability: Rugged Thread  proprietary repair management system, handles intake, communication, repairs, and reporting, integrating seamlessly with customer service platforms for real-time visibility and data analytics

Design for Repair (DFR): Brands gain access to DFR expertise to improve product repairability, reduce costs, and create a more resilient product lifecycle

Circularity Impact: Annual impact reports showcase total repairs and CO₂ reduction

Brands that fully engage in the program benefit from lower more consistent repair costs, stronger brand loyalty, and data-driven insights into repair trends.