Levi Strauss Launches the “Wear Longer Project”

While many young shoppers love buying previously owned clothes at thrift stores, most lack the sewing skills needed to repair or alter their buys. To try and bridge that gap, Levi Strauss & Co. has launched the Levi’s Wear Longer Project.

The project offers free resources primarily aimed at students in grades 9 through 12. Developed in partnership with edtech provider Discovery Education, the program teaches young people hands-on life skills such as how to repair and customize their clothes, from sewing a button to patching a hole or tailoring a hem. The program seeks to equip participants with the skills and confidence needed to repair, refresh and reimagine their clothes so they look better and last longer.

“At Levi Strauss & Co., we’ve spent more than 170 years designing clothes to be worn and loved for as long as possible,” said President and CEO Michelle Gass. “The Levi’s Wear Longer Project builds on that legacy by giving young people the confidence and tools to extend the life of what they already own. By building up repair skills within the next generation and emphasizing the idea of durability, we’re helping spark a culture of creativity, sustainability and pride in taking care of the things we value.”

Starting in its hometown of San Francisco before expanding globally, the project seeks to educate local youth through regular opportunities to build core repair skills. The program will begin with a workshop for San Francisco high school students at Eureka Lab, the retailer’s R&D facility.

Additional trainings and workshops will continue throughout the year, including activations during the upcoming Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco. (That game takes place Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in nearby Santa Clara, Calif.)

Click here for more information on the initiative.