European Clothing Repair Market to Hit €3.7bn by 2030

Europe's clothing and footwear repair market reached an estimated 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in 2025 and is projected to grow 5.5 percent annually to 3.7 billion euros ($4.1 billion) by 2030, according to figures from the Fédération de la Mode Circulaire and KPMG cited in a new industry report.

Circular Fashion News, a media and foresight platform, published "The State of Clothing Repair & Care H1/2026" covering the European repair industry's condition and the first half of 2026's key developments. The report draws on industry data, academic studies, brand announcements and policy changes from the period.

The market's growth path depends heavily on policy. The most consequential lever is circular VAT: a reduced rate on repair services and potentially on secondhand sales.

What could VAT reform change?

The EU has permitted reduced VAT on repair since 2022, but member states have not widely implemented it. In May 2026, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and 69 organizations signed a statement asking for targeted policies supporting circular business models, including lower VAT on secondhand sales and repair. The European Commission opened a public consultation on circular VAT in September 2026.

Repair bonuses offer a second policy track. France launched the first such program in 2023, giving consumers an instant discount of 7-25 euros ($7.80-$28) per repair at certified repairers. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees paid by brands fund the scheme. Ireland plans to pilot a repair voucher scheme in 2027, apparently modeled on France's program.

Which brands scaled repair in 2026?

The report tracks nine brand repair programs created or expanded in the first half of 2026. Next, Kiabi, Salomon and Primark are among the participants. Most launched with specialist repair partners, including Sojo, Save Your Wardrobe and United Repair Centre.

Levi's took a different route. Its Wear Longer Project kicked off in January 2026 with the goal of educating young people about repair. The program includes a free digital curriculum, in-classroom lessons and community workshops.

What do consumers actually want?

Uptake hinges on consumer behavior, and two studies in the report quantify the stakes. Samsara Eco, an Australian circular materials company, surveyed 5,000 circular-conscious Gen Z consumers globally and found that when a garment fails, 1 in 4 leave the brand. Fabric thinning or developing holes was the top concern at 62 percent, followed by seams splitting or unravelling at 55 percent. The majority said they expect clothing to last at least 30 wears.

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden studied consumer preferences around repair services using jeans as a case study. Saving money motivated repair more than environmental reasons, the researchers found. Participants said they would pay at least half the price of new jeans for a repair.

What pressures hold the market back?

Fast and ultra-fast fashion remain the sector's main headwind, the report states, because low prices and low product quality disincentivize repair. When a replacement garment costs less than a repair, neither VAT relief nor a bonus voucher reliably shifts the calculation.

For sourcing and compliance teams, the report points to three decisions. Brands selling in France already fund repair through EPR fees, and an Irish voucher scheme in 2027 would extend that obligation. A reduced circular VAT rate, if adopted after the Commission's consultation, would change the pricing of repair and resale services across the EU. Durability itself is now a retention metric: Samsara Eco's data shows fabric and seam failures push a quarter of young consumers away from a brand.