Levi Strauss & Co. has launched the Levi’s® Wear Longer Project, a new community engagement initiative aimed at equipping young people with practical skills to repair, refresh and customise their clothing, as part of efforts to reduce textile waste and promote more sustainable fashion habits.
The programme responds to growing interest among Gen Z in thrifting, repurposing and creative self-expression, alongside a decline in basic clothing repair skills. A recent US survey by Levi Strauss & Co. found that 41% of Gen Z respondents lack basic repair knowledge, such as sewing a button or fixing a tear, almost double the rate seen among older generations. Around 35% said they would keep their clothes for longer if they knew how to repair them. The findings come against the backdrop of rising clothing waste in the US, where the average person discards more than 80 pounds of apparel each year.
The Levi’s® Wear Longer Project offers free educational resources primarily targeted at students in grades 9 to 12. Developed in partnership with Discovery Education and aligned with national K–12 education standards, the curriculum focuses on hands-on skills, including basic sewing, patching and tailoring, while also introducing concepts such as supply chains and resource management.
Michelle Gass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Levi Strauss & Co., said the initiative builds on the company’s long-standing focus on durability by helping young people extend the life of the clothes they already own, while fostering creativity and sustainability.
The curriculum is now available across the US through a free online platform, with LS&Co. employees set to act as volunteer ambassadors by delivering in-person workshops in schools and local communities. Schools using Discovery Education Experience will be able to integrate the programme directly into classroom teaching.
The project will launch in San Francisco, Levi Strauss & Co.’s hometown, with workshops hosted at the company’s Eureka Lab before expanding more broadly across the city and, eventually, internationally. Additional training sessions and community activations are planned throughout the year.
As the initiative scales, LS&Co. plans to work with community partners and selected retail locations to widen access to repair education, reinforcing its commitment to responsible consumption and encouraging both young people and employees to develop and share practical skills that extend the life of clothing.
