Talking Repair: a conversation between the Albion Repair team

In 2019, Albion launched their first simple repair patch as part of a Repair Workshop. Alongside the Workshops (repairing any brand of cycling kit), Albion has introduced the repair kit and carries out repairs on customers’ products 12 months of the year. To celebrate another year of repair, we sat down with the in-house team to hear about their approach towards repair and extending the life cycle of a product

Why does Albion offer free repair on all products?

Rhiannon: Our goal is to provide the best technical kit to help people explore with confidence. It’s vital that our community can trust that their gear will last, and when scratches or scrapes happen, we’re here to help extend the life of their most beloved products.

We constantly question what we make and why. Designing with purpose and creating tools that perform is at the core of what we do. However, we recognise that every new product adds to the market, no matter how considered the design. That’s why we offer free repairs, to extend the life of our garments, keep them in use for as long as possible, and reduce the need for replacements. In many ways, it embodies the mission here to help people stay outside for longer. That starts with the product.

Jack L: We've always taken a stance that repair can and should be one of the key pillars in the life of a product. We're aware that the products we make are used in quite extreme environments where they naturally can take a bit of a beating. It makes sense to offer riders the chance to keep their kit going, from a small snag to serious damage. Anything we can do to avoid kit ending up in landfill is a win.

For the people wearing the kit, repair has become an expectation. Riders now ask for sustainability factors like repair to be an integral part of any brand they buy from. We're keen to be part of that conversation and make repair a core reason to buy from Albion, with the confidence that if you take a spill, it’s very likely we can get your gear back on the road.

Graeme: If you’re using precious resources and putting a product into the world, you have a huge responsibility as the designer, maker, or supplier to ensure it’s as good quality as possible and utilised as fully as possible during its first life. Embedding repair as a product *feature* ensures the user is considering extended life from the moment they start using it.

And then there’s the practical side. Often a small area of damage, as happens in a crash, means the item is unwearable. A hole in a rain jacket elbow, a scuff on a bib short thigh, often these are high value items that would otherwise be put out of commission. Keeping the apparel running reduces overall impact and strengthens the owner’s bond with the item, adding emotional durability.

What is Albion’s approach to repair?

Rhiannon: We make visible repairs. Each one unique to the experience of the wearer. Every customer with a repaired garment owns something completely original, with its own personal history and value.

When we first began repairing years ago, people often preferred invisible fixes. Now there’s real pride in wearing visible repairs, which feels like a shift in how attitudes toward repair have evolved. This approach also makes repairs quicker and more accessible, and has enabled us to run workshops around the world, keeping kit in use for much longer.

We also work closely with a brilliant technician called Radina in London, who helps with the most complicated repairs and imparts specialist expertise to the team when she visits the Studio.

Jack L: We know that products designed for adventure are likely to see a few battle scars over their life, and that should be celebrated rather than punished. Those marks are reminders of tough long trips or sketchy surfaces late at night when it’s easy to take a spill.

When we repair products, we aim to celebrate those marks as badges of honour, not hide them with invisible repairs. After races, riders are understandably sentimental about their kit, and we want to support that relationship and keep those memories alive through repair.

Graeme: At Albion, we aim to keep the product running as long as reasonably possible, with repair typically falling into three categories:

1. Manufacturing/QC issues,

2. Crash damage, and;

3. Wear and tear.

Each of these need a different approach. From re-stitching seams to patching stretch fabrics, to layering reinforcement over fatigued areas. The goal is always “keep it running,” not “make it look new.” The repair becomes a personalised embellishment for the rider.

Garments beyond repair are kept as donor items, and we use the fabric and trim for future repairs.

We also host free repair sessions at events, repairing any brand of cycling clothing to raise awareness and challenge the industry. We feel every brand should support their community in this way.

What is your role within the repair team?

Rhiannon: I oversee and guide the day-to-day construction of each repair that comes into the studio. I work closely with Jack and Graeme, and because we collaborate so tightly, every repair becomes a shared process. Everyone contributes ideas and decisions about how each piece is made.

Jack L: I help with admin and repair preparation. Everything from preparing materials and pressing fabric patches onto crash damage, to the final QC and delivery back to the rider. We’re a small team, so everyone touches every part of the process.

When I first began, my hands-on experience was limited, so working on repairs has given me valuable insight for customer service and product knowledge. Understanding how and why things fail, and how we can improve design and durability.

Graeme: As well as helping with general repairs, I take on some of the more technical work that requires creative solutions. I’m fascinated by machinery and equipment, so I maintain the studio’s capability, always developing new tools or techniques, sometimes even hacking existing machines.

And because repairs happen in-house, I’m constantly thinking about how to design out weak points or switch to more durable options, whether that’s fabric, fabrication, feature, or fit.

How does Albion’s repair program impact the way you design products?

Rhiannon: Repair gives us valuable insight into how our products perform through long-term, real-world wear. It helps us identify and design out potential points of failure, improving durability across the range and informing future projects.

Jack L: We keep a database of all repairs and monitor repeat issues. For example, development of the ABR1 Pocket Bib Shorts was directly informed by repair data, analysing where wear occurred most and how to extend the product’s life.

Graeme: There’s a constant loop between repair and design, from the literal physical repairs to conversations with riders at workshops. It all feeds into design thinking, sometimes leading to changes not just for durability, but for simplicity of construction or even *design for repair*.

We talk about designing for durability and longevity. What does that mean in practice?

Rhiannon: Two key areas matter most:

Performance - selecting technical fabrics and trims, high-quality construction, and trusted manufacturing partners to ensure each product is fit for purpose long-term.

Design - creating high-performance pieces that are desirable and timeless, not trend-driven. Responsible design goes beyond materials, it’s features, fit, and functionality that all help a product stand the test of time.

Jack L: Durability and longevity must be built in from the very start. Ensuring that repair is possible is part of those early stages of design. Longevity also means working with our fabric partners like Pertex and PrimaLoft to transition from PFAS coatings to more environmentally friendly solutions, and sharing care information so riders can help extend their kit’s life.

Graeme: Cycling puts huge demand on fabrics. They need to be light, stretchy, comfortable, UV-resistant, and long-lasting. It’s always a balance between these factors.

There’s also an emotional side: the invisible, intimate experience of wearing a favourite garment. What makes you reach for it every time? Fit, comfort, colour? Even those choices affect sustainability. Sometimes the garments we love most are the most sustainable ones simply because we use them the most.

Any repairs you are particularly proud of?

Rhiannon: That’s tough! We’ve seen so many over the years, each with its own story. Fixing kit after the Atlas Mountain Race was a highlight; riders had just finished one of the biggest challenges of their lives and handed us the pieces they trusted to protect them. Being able to repair those so they could continue using them felt really special.

Jack L: There was a jacket recently where the sleeve got caught in a cassette - it was shredded. We decided to “amputate” the arm and gave the rider the option to replace both sleeves with a contrasting blue. They loved it, and we kept a good jacket on the road.

Graeme: We had a dramatic one brought into a Black Friday event. It was a hardshell jacket cut off by medics after an accident. We realigned the torn sections, seam-sealed it, and added a reflective top layer like visible repair on ceramics. It was unique and gave new life to what had been an unwearable jacket.

What’s the most unusual reason someone has needed a repair?

Rhiannon: Animal encounters have been a bit of a theme… everything from wild boar to chipmunk attacks!

Jack L: Definitely. We’ve had chipmunks chewing through vests left with gels inside, mice nibbling rain jackets, and wild boar collisions. There’s always a story behind those repairs.

Any practical tips for people who want to repair at home or on the move?

Rhiannon: Don’t be afraid of visible repairs! They give a garment character. If you’re not confident in sewing, use iron-on or adhesive repair patches. Just give it a go. There’s something very satisfying about keeping your kit going yourself rather than throwing it away.

Jack L: Our new Repair Kit 2.0 is a great upgrade on the original. New recycled patches, spare zip pullers, and it’s ideal for quick fixes at home or while travelling.

Graeme: Start small and build confidence. Do some tests before committing, and look around for help. There are loads of great tutorials online. And it’s more fun with friends; repair sessions are a great way to share knowledge and motivation.

What does the future of repair at Albion look like?

Rhiannon: I’d love to see the repair program grow into a global network. Partnering with skilled makers around the world to repair kit locally, supporting technicians, building communities, and empowering customers to extend their gear’s life.

Jack L: We’re looking to be active at more events like the Lost Dot and Mountain Races, repairing kit regardless of brand and learning from the kinds of damage we see. We’re also expanding our repair roadshow internationally for the first time this year. It’s exciting to think about bringing this to more people.

Graeme: We’re exploring automation and some new concepts like sublimation repair and single-tooth zip replacement. Those frustrating small failures that render a garment useless. Imagine fixing one broken zip tooth instead of replacing the whole thing!