Fixing Our Future: Why International Repair Day Matters

The first instinct might be to replace it.

But what if there was a simpler, more sustainable choice – one that could save money, reduce waste and bring your cherished items back to life? That’s exactly what International Repair Day encourages, and why platforms like We Are Repairs are here to transform the way we think about repair.

What is International Repair Day?

Every year on the third Saturday of October, people around the world celebrate International Repair Day. A day dedicated to highlighting the importance of repair, reuse, and extending the life of the things we own.

The day shines a spotlight on repairers, artisans and everyday people who choose to fix rather than discard. It’s a reminder that repair isn’t just practical – it’s a statement about sustainability, creativity and the value we place on what we already own.

Why Repair Matters

Repairing isn’t just about nostalgia or thriftiness. Yes, a lot of people throw it back to the post-war years of ‘Make Do and Mend’ but it’s so much more than that. It’s about creating positive environmental, economic, and social impact:

• Reducing waste: Millions of items are thrown away each year simply because replacing them seems easier. But repairing keeps items in use longer, helping to reduce landfill and save precious resources.

• Supporting skilled craftspeople: Repairers, conservators and restorers are experts in their field and many of them preserve traditional skills that are in danger of being lost if we don’t support them. Every repair you commission helps sustain local businesses and communities.

• Saving money & preserving value: Repairing may not be cheaper than replacing in the first instance but caring for your items makes them last longer, so you don’t need to replace them as frequently, and it preserves items with sentimental or financial value from heirloom furniture to vintage electronics.

• Strengthening the circular economy: Choosing repair over replacement helps create a sustainable loop of consumption, supporting thousands of jobs while reducing environmental impact.

According to research carried out by SUEZ (2025), if everyone in the UK repaired just two extra items per year, we could keep 23 million more items in use, generate £1.6 billion for local economies, and support over 74,000 skilled jobs.

That’s the power of repair.

How We Are Repairs Makes Repair Easy

Finding a trustworthy repairer used to take hours of searching, phone calls, and guesswork. We Are Repairs simplifies the process and connects users to verified repair experts across the UK in categories including furniture, clothing, electronics, leather, and musical instruments.

Here’s how it works:

1. Search by item and location – Enter what you want to repair and where you are to quickly find repairers near you.

2. Browse verified repairers – Featured and Premium Profiles show photos, an overview, reviews, and expertise, so you can choose with confirdence.

3. Get quotes and support – Contact repairers directly to get a quote for your item.

4. Support the circular economy – Each repair contributes to a more sustainable, resource-conscious future.

International Repair Day: How You Can Get Involved

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just curious about repair, there are many ways to participate:

• Share your repair stories – Post before/after photos using #InternationalRepairDay and tag us at @WeAreRepairs so we can see and share them.

• Promote local repairers – Find a local repairer near you on We Are Repairs and give them a shout out locally or a review if you’ve used them before.

• Start a repair challenge – Commit to repairing one item instead of replacing it, and invite friends or colleagues to do the same.

• Support the UK Repair and Reuse Declaration – urge your MP to sign the declaration calling for repair to be made easier and more affordable for everyone.

Every item repaired is a step toward a more sustainable, thoughtful, and creative world.

Take the First Step: Repair Today

This International Repair Day, before you replace, explore repair.

• Find a repairer near you

• Get inspiration for your next repair project

• Support local skilled artisans

• Join the movement toward a circular economy

Repair isn’t just a practical choice – it’s an act of care, creativity, and responsibility. Together, we can make repair the everyday choice, not the exception.

Let’s fix our future, one item at a time.