Levi’s introduces a repair initiative aimed at empowering young people with practical skills that encourage creativity, confidence, and sustainability. US denim and apparel brand Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) has unveiled a new programme designed to help high school students learn how to repair, customise, and extend the life of their clothing—putting control of fashion back into their own hands.
Teaching Teens How to Make Clothes Last Longer
Called the Levi’s Wear Longer Project, the initiative focuses on hands-on learning through free digital tools, classroom-ready content, and community workshops. The goal is simple: give young people the skills they need to care for the clothes they already own rather than replacing them.
The programme responds directly to changing attitudes and skill gaps among younger consumers. Research carried out by LS&Co. in the US found that 41 percent of Gen Z lack basic clothing repair knowledge, such as sewing on a button or fixing a tear—almost twice the rate seen in older generations. At the same time, 35 percent of young people said they would keep their clothes for longer if they knew how to repair them.
A Curriculum Built for High Schools
To address this gap, LS&Co. partnered with global edtech company Discovery Education to develop a curriculum aimed at students in grades 9 to 12 across the US. The learning materials are aligned with national K–12 education standards and cover essential skills such as mending holes, hemming trousers, sewing buttons, and customising garments.
Beyond technical skills, the curriculum also introduces broader concepts like resource management, durability, and the environmental impact of clothing production—helping students understand the full lifecycle of fashion.
A Legacy of Durability and Care
Michelle Gass, president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co., said the initiative reflects the company’s long-standing values. She explained that Levi’s has spent more than 170 years creating clothes meant to be worn, loved, and kept for as long as possible.
According to Gass, the Wear Longer Project builds on that heritage by giving young people the tools and confidence to take care of what they own. By strengthening repair skills in the next generation, the brand hopes to inspire a culture rooted in creativity, sustainability, and pride in ownership.
Free Access for Educators and Students
The curriculum is available year-round at no cost through a dedicated online platform, making it accessible to educators and students nationwide. Schools already using Discovery Education Experience can integrate the Levi’s Wear Longer Project directly into their classroom lessons as a cross-curricular resource.
Catherine Dunlop, senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Discovery Education, noted that schools are increasingly seeking learning materials that connect academic subjects with real-world skills. She highlighted that the programme helps students build confidence and problem-solving abilities while exploring complex topics such as supply chains and resource use.
Community Workshops and Employee Volunteers
The initiative extends beyond the classroom. LS&Co. employees will act as volunteer ambassadors, delivering hands-on repair workshops in schools and local communities. The first sessions are set to take place in San Francisco—Levi’s hometown—at the company’s Eureka Lab, before expanding to other locations globally.
Additional activations are planned throughout the year, including workshops tied to major events such as Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco.
Scaling Repair Education Globally
Looking ahead, LS&Co. plans to expand the Wear Longer Project through partnerships with community organisations and selected retail initiatives. This approach aims to create multiple entry points for both young people and employees to engage with repair education.
Through this growing programme, Levi’s introduces a repair initiative aimed at empowering young people to rethink fashion, value durability, and develop skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
