The WEAR store in Rotterdam was officially opened yesterday! WEAR is a fantastic concept. They give used sneakers a second life by means of a loving refurbishment or as they say themselves: 'for those who have ruined their sneakers at a festival'. With this they want to make a big dent in the waste stream of 300 million kilos of clothing every year and make people aware that refurbishment and repair are the first step in sustainable fashion before recycling.
The WEAR team consists of people with a distance from the labour market, who in this way can gain valuable skills and flying hours in the store and studio where they give smeared sneakers the chance of a second love in a world that is therefore slightly less toxic than the day before.
Imagebuilders tries to build in sustainability as a matter of course in many areas of its business operations, both in the use of materials, processes and, for example, the fleet and production. We were also inspired by WEAR's view to also view our own flow of goods as items of value that deserve a second life and so we have reused products from other projects in WEAR's shop fittings. For example, panels have been reused and applied in the counter, and the benches on which you can fit shoes are recycled stools that found a home here with a new cushion and fresh styling! Even the steel numbers that indicate the shoe sizes are made from leftover steel plate material.
It has to be said, it is tough to change your own working method and to look at it with fresh eyes, but we are very happy with the result and a happy customer, but also the experience through this beautiful project! Now that the store is completely filled with sneakers that can start a second life, the interior really comes to life!
Amazing people from Wear: good luck, you rock!