Levi Strauss & Co has launched an initiative aimed at teaching young people how to repair, refresh and reimagine their clothes. 

Developed in partnership with global edtech company Discovery Education and aligned with national K-12 education standards, the Levi’s Wear Longer Project offers hands-on lessons in practical repair skills, including sewing buttons, patching holes and tailoring hems.

Michelle Gass, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co, said the program is part of the company’s broader push to extend garment lifecycles and reduce waste.

“We’ve spent more than 170 years designing clothes to be worn and loved for as long as possible,” she said.

“The Levi’s Wear Longer Project builds on that legacy by giving young people the confidence and tools to extend the life of what they already own.”

The program follows internal research from Levi’s, which found that 41 per cent of Gen Z in the US have no basic clothing repair skills, such as fixing a tear or sewing a button, nearly double the rate of older eras.

“By building up repair skills within the next generation and emphasising the idea of durability, we’re helping spark a culture of creativity, sustainability, and pride in taking care of the things we value,” Gass added.

The curriculum is available nationwide via Discovery Education’s free platform. Levi’s employees will also act as volunteer ambassadors, delivering workshops in schools and local communities.

The project will debut in Levi’s hometown of San Francisco, beginning with a workshop for local high school students at the company’s Eureka Lab, before expanding nationwide.