REPAIR REBELS WINS THE GERMAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

REPAIR REBELS WINS THE GERMAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD IN THE FASHION RETAIL CATEGORY!

We are deeply honored. Repair Rebels has been awarded the German Sustainability Award 2025 in the Fashion Retail category, one of Europe’s most respected recognitions for sustainable transformation. For us, this award is more than a distinction. It is a clear signal that repair, the circular economy, and after-sales services are no longer niche concepts. They are becoming core pillars of the sustainable future of fashion (German Sustainability Award Jury Statement, 2025).

WHAT THE GERMAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD MEANS

The German Sustainability Award is Europe’s most comprehensive recognition for ecological and social commitment. Each year, the award is presented in the context of the German Sustainability Congress, where representatives from politics, business, science, and civil society come together to recognize organizations driving measurable change.

The jury evaluates companies based on the effectiveness and credibility of their contributions to sustainable transformation. In the case of Repair Rebels, the decisive factor was the development of a holistic, circular business model that offers a scalable and credible alternative within the fast-moving fashion industry.

WHY REPAIR REBELS WAS RECOGNIZED

Repair Rebels plays a pioneering role in the fashion industry. Through our digital repair platform, we connect customers, fashion brands, and skilled craftspeople to professionally repair clothing, shoes, and accessories, significantly extending product lifespans.

Thanks to our decentralized network of artisans, repair services are accessible across Germany. We optimize transport routes, collaborate with climate-friendly logistics partners, and use reusable packaging. Around 30% of our customers repair an item for the first time through our platform, and 50% come from rural regions. This demonstrates that repair is not only environmentally beneficial, but also accessible, inclusive, and scalable. Repair is a mindset, but whether it becomes part of everyday life depends on infrastructure.

"EACH REPAIRED GARMENT IS A STEP TOWARD MORE MINDFUL CONSUMPTION OF FASHION"

A SIGNAL FOR THE INDUSTRY

What makes this award particularly meaningful is its context. Repair Rebels was selected as the winner in the Fashion Retail category through a two-stage evaluation process involving expert jurors. In the final round, companies of very different sizes and business models were shortlisted: Petit Cochon Manufaktur GmbH, Repair Rebels GmbH, and Tchibo GmbH. The jury’s decision in favor of a repair-based, service-oriented business model like ours sends a clear message: sustainable transformation is not a question of company size, but of mindset, innovation, and the willingness to question and redesign existing systems (Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis).

MORE THAN AN AWARD – OUR RESPONSIBILITY

While we are deeply honored by this recognition, the German Sustainability Award is not a goal we have reached, but a responsibility we accept. A responsibility to demonstrate, day by day, that repair, the circular economy, and sustainable services are more than buzzwords in the fashion industry.

An award of this stature increases our visibility—and with it, our responsibility toward our customers, our network of craftspeople, and an industry that urgently needs to evolve. We see this recognition as a commitment to continue on our path with consistency and ambition, to scale our business model internationally, and to remain critical, reflective, and accountable in everything we do.

WHAT’S NEXT

The German Sustainability Award strengthens our commitment to expand our network of artisans, make repair services accessible to a broader audience, and collaborate with industry partners on solutions that help fashion last longer, preserve cultural craftsmanship, and strengthen the local service economy.

One thing is clear: sustainable transformation only succeeds through collaboration. With the people who do the repairing. With customers who make mindful choices. And with companies that are willing to take responsibility for the products they bring to market.