Clothing repair school in France's former textile capital gives garments a second life
The École de la Réparation in Roubaix, France, opened in September 2025 and welcomed its first class of 20 students, who completed internships with major fashion brands. The school, located in a former textile factory, teaches clothing and shoe repair as part of a broader effort to promote the circular economy. Co-founded by Veja co-founder Sébastien Kopp and Stéphanie Calvino, the initiative aims to build student confidence and technical skills in sustainable fashion.
- ▪The École de la Réparation opened in September 2025 in Roubaix, France.
- ▪Students completed internships with luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Berluti, and Paraboot.
- ▪The school is located in the former Tissel textile factory, a city-owned building dedicated to the circular economy.
- ▪Sébastien Kopp, co-founder of Veja, co-founded the school with Stéphanie Calvino.
- ▪The program emphasizes both technical training and personal confidence-building in repair crafts.
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Students Chaineze Guendouze, 21 (foreground), and Amadou Balde, 23, at the École de la Réparation in Roubaix, January 2026. AIMÉE THIRION FOR M LE MAGAZINE DU MONDE March was a unique month for the 20 students in the first class of the École de la Réparation ("School of Repair") in the northern French city of Roubaix. After several weeks learning how to repair shoes and clothing at this institution, which opened in September, all students completed immersive internships with companies specializing in the manufacture of clothing and footwear. "It went extremely well," said Sébastien Kopp, co-founder of the sneaker brand Veja and president of the association that runs the school. "The students were welcomed at Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Berluti and Paraboot.
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