United Repair Centre
Long associated with creativity and innovation, the fashion industry is also a major contributor to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including environmental degradation and social inequality. United Repair Centre (URC) was founded to redefine the approach to sustainability and inclusion in the fashion industry. By focusing on high-quality clothing repair services, URC advocates for a shift towards circularity – extending the lifespan of clothing, reducing textile waste and minimizing fashion’s environmental footprint. But URC’s mission extends beyond sustainability. The company is also committed to creating social value by providing employment and skills-building opportunities to people who face significant barriers to entering the labor market, including refugees, young adults and other marginalized groups.
Nov 2016 - Dec 2019
Project starts
URC’s story is one of resilience, vision and partnership. It all started in 2016, when a newcomer-led initiative upcycled 6,000 discarded life vests into Re-Vest Life Ribbons and took to the streets of Amsterdam on King’s Day to spark conversation about the migrant crisis.
At the helm is Thami Schweichler, a social entrepreneur whose passion for combining business with social and environmental justice has been the driving force behind URC’s remarkable journey. Thami’s bold vision has paved the way for URC to become a leader in both the circular economy and social entrepreneurship.
Today, URC is more than just a service provider—it’s a movement. It’s a model for how businesses can balance profitability with a purposeful approach to global challenges through local solutions. The partnership with Generous Minds underscores how mentorship and an aligned vision can transform an innovative idea into a scalable model for change, creating lasting impact in both environmental sustainability and social equity. As URC continues to expand its operations and influence, its story serves as a testament to what can be achieved when businesses and communities come together to drive meaningful change.
Dec 2019 - Apr 2020
Makers Unite
From Makers Unite to United Repair Centre
United Repair Centre (URC) traces its roots back to Makers Unite, an initiative that was founded in 2016 amid the European refugee crisis. Fueled by a desire to create meaningful connections and foster understanding, Makers Unite used creativity and sustainability to tell powerful stories. The organization repurposed refugee life jackets into practical products like laptop sleeves and municipal clothing bins, turning these symbols of displacement into opportunities for awareness and impact. In addition to making products, Makers Unite also focused on providing career guidance and employment opportunities to refugees and local communities, combining social inclusion with environmental sustainability.
Despite the initiative’s early success in gaining traction and funding, Makers Unite faced significant challenges in scaling its operations. While the B2C model was having an impact, it proved insufficient for long-term sustainability and growth. Generous Minds therefore stepped in as a partner to chart a new course for the organisation. Together, they identified a critical need to shift from a consumer-centric approach to a B2B strategy, enabling Makers Unite to operate on a larger, more sustainable scale.
A Crucial Turning Point
Generous Minds gathered its network of legal, financial and strategic experts to support and enable the transformation:
Legal support: Legal partners at BVDV intervened on a no-value-no-pay basis to resolve tax-related challenges, protecting Makers Unite’s operations during a critical period.
Financial expertise: Interim CFO Kees Boot developed a robust business and cash flow model to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the organization.
Grant Success: Generous Minds advisor Jean-Pierre Houtkoop secured essential grants that provided much-needed operational funding, enabling the organization to keep its doors open during these challenging times.
Financing support: Ronald Beuk, initiator of Generous Minds, guided Makers Unite in aligning its mission with a sustainable business strategy and thus helped attract impact-oriented financiers.
aug 2021 - june 2022
Transfer
The combined efforts of this team enabled Makers Unite to transition from a foundation to a for-profit social enterprise. This shift not only stabilized the organization financially, but also laid the foundation for its evolution into United Repair Centre (URC) - a scalable and impactful solution to the fashion industry's growing need for circularity.
june 2023 - dec 2023
URC
The Birth of United Repair Centre
Building on the solid foundation laid by Makers Unite, United Repair Centre (URC) was established as a separate legal entity and organisation, a for-profit social enterprise designed to address the fashion industry’s dual challenge of waste reduction and social inclusion. In partnership with Patagonia and supported by the Amsterdam Economic Board, URC positioned itself as a premier repair service for global fashion brands. This new identity enabled URC to scale its operations and further its mission to make garment repair an integral part of the fashion value chain.
To realize this ambitious vision, significant investments were required. Under the guidance of Generous Minds, URC successfully raised €1.8 million from a diverse group of investors, including ROM InWest , Start Foundation , Fair Capital Partners , Social Enterprise NL and Oranje Fonds . This funding enabled URC to set up a state-of-the-art repair center in Amsterdam, which serves as a model for socially inclusive and ecologically sustainable entrepreneurship.
jan 2024 -
London
Expansion to London
In 2023, URC took a bold step towards becoming Europe’s largest clothing repair service by expanding its operations to London. This milestone marked the organisation’s first international move and underlined its commitment to delivering local solutions that minimise environmental impact. With £300,000 in funding, supported by Ronald Beuk and Jurek Hryniuk from the Generous Minds Money team, URC’s London centre is expected to repair over 10,000 garments by the end of 2024. This expansion is in line with URC’s strategy to work closely with local brands and communities to reduce the carbon emissions associated with clothing transportation.
The London repair centre represents more than just a geographical expansion: it reflects URC’s ability to replicate the successful Amsterdam model in new markets. By continuing to focus on local operations and sustainable practices, URC continues to set the standard for circularity in the fashion industry.
jan 2025 -
Future
Looking ahead
As URC looks to the future, its ambitions extend far beyond London. The organisation plans to set up local repair centres across Europe, allowing it to service global brands while minimising the environmental impact of its operations. This approach ensures that URC remains true to its commitment to sustainability by avoiding the unnecessary carbon emissions that come with transporting garments over long distances.
URC’s vision is clear: to become Europe’s largest garment repair service while maintaining its dual focus on circularity and social impact. By working with local partners and tailoring its services to the needs of specific markets, URC is poised to scale its operations in a way that maximizes both environmental and social benefits.
Dec 2021 - Jan 2022
Vision
A Shared Vision
The journey from Makers Unite to United Repair Centre has been one of transformation, resilience and collaboration. At its core is the strong partnership between Thami Schweichler and Generous Minds. Their shared belief in using business as a force for good has driven URC’s success and continues to shape its future. Through strategic guidance, financial expertise and unwavering support, Generous Minds has been able to become a cornerstone of URC’s evolution, helping to transform a bold idea into a scalable model for impact.
This journey, however, has not been one of individual efforts. The partnership with Generous Minds has enriched this journey immensely. Our Minds have supported URC through every pivotal moment, helping the organization overcome challenges, secure funding, and refine its strategic direction. From its beginnings as Makers Unite, an initiative focused on upcycling life jackets for refugees, to its transformation into the high-impact United Repair Centre, the partnership between URC and Generous Minds demonstrates the power of shared purpose and aligned values.