It was a beautiful sunny day in Revelstoke on May 25 — the perfect conditions to launch a program that will help improve the planet. The Revy Re-Fest community festival served as a launchpad for the KORE Re-Hub Program, an endeavour that’s reimagining the future of outdoor gear by offering free repairs of such soft goods as jackets and backpacks, and 3D scanning assessments of repairs to hard goods.
The day’s basecamp was a mobile repair unit, donated by the College of the Rockies, that was fully equipped with industrial sewing gear. Professional technicians stitched, patched, and restored over 80 items including outdoor apparel and sleeping bags from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, hard goods like ski equipment were assessed by staff from Selkirk College’s Technology Access Centre (STAC) using advanced 3D scanning tools, marking a leap forward in how we think about repair tech in the outdoor sector and in the Kootenays.
“It was amazing to see how much demand there is for this kind of service,” said KORE Executive Director Kevin Pennock. “People weren’t just dropping off gear—they were sticking around, asking questions, and engaging with the idea that repair can be a community norm.”
What is the KORE Re-Hub Program?
The KORE Re-Hub Program is tackling a global challenge through local action. The outdoor recreation industry is worth $887 billion globally, yet only 1% of textiles used in gear and apparel are recycled, while a staggering 85% end up in landfills or incinerators. The Re-Hub initiative aims to change that by keeping gear in use longer and sparking circular thinking across the industry.
Its first phase is this summer’s mobile repair tour, which will visit 11 other events across the Kootenays to offer free soft-good fixes and hard-good assessments, while gathering feedback and gauging community support. The tour is made possible through a powerful collaboration between College of the Rockies, Selkirk Innovates, and funders including CleanBC, ETSI-BC, 1% for the Planet, Gear re-Store, PBJ Merch Co, and Autogrowth Inc.
Building Toward a Permanent Circular Economy Hub
Beyond this season’s tour, KORE Outdoors has plans to establish a permanent Re-Hub facility in the Kootenay region. The proposed space would act as a community and industry hub for:
Advanced repair and refurbishment
Upcycled materials research and reuse
E-commerce resale platforms
Industrial sewing training programs
Community gear swap and exchange events
For more about the KORE Re-Hub Program, visit: koreoutdoors.org/rehub