From Uniqlo to Zara, clothing brands try to win over Gen Z with a needle and thread

NEW YORK (AP) — Popular clothing retailers are offering in-store repairs and hosting sewing workshops as they try to appeal to young consumers looking to save money and the planet. Encouraging customers to mend worn clothes instead of buying new ones might seem like a self-defeating sales strategy. However, the fashion industry as a whole has come under intensifying pressure to reduce its impacts on the environment. Luxury fashion houses and select specialty retailers like Patagonia have offered product repairs for decades. The concept is catching on at the mass-market level. Levi’s, casual wear chain Uniqlo and budget retailer Primark are a few of the apparel companies hoping to win over Generation Z shoppers with a needle and thread.