- INTU Circularity is the first company in Poland to digitize clothing repair and upcycling services for both business and individual clients.
- The company enables fashion brands and the fashion market not only to adapt to upcoming legislative changes but also to get ahead of them—by creating more innovative, resilient, and profitable business models.
- INTU is building a network of seamstresses across Poland and socially empowering marginalized individuals, preparing them to work in the fashion sector through its educational and training programs.
- Among its B2B clients is Answear—currently the largest service partner. In May this year, INTU will launch another major project with Westfield (Westfield Good Festival).
- Currently, the company is working on an upcycled fashion collection for a major clothing brand.
The EU’s digital product passport for fashion is coming
Soon, in line with European Commission announcements, the fashion industry will be required to implement the so-called Digital Product Passport, set to take effect in 2027. Manufactured garments will be labeled with QR-code-like tags and linked to a digital platform, where consumers can check where the item was made, what materials were used, their origin, and even how much water was consumed in the production process. This is a significant shift for fashion giants across Europe, including in Poland.
INTU Circularity is a Polish startup helping brands transition toward sustainability, offering solutions aligned with the upcoming EU regulations. Founded in July 2024, the company has already completed hundreds of repairs and partnered with leading fashion brands in Poland, including Answear. INTU is the first local company to digitize repairs for both business and individual clients, delivering highly personalized services and ESG solutions to support sustainable development and profitability in the fashion sector.
As the founders explain, many individual customers repair premium-brand items that they are emotionally attached to and don’t want to part with. With craft-inspired finishing touches, clients receive refreshed and one-of-a-kind garments straight from the hands of skilled artisans. On the business side, INTU helps textile and clothing companies meet increasingly strict EU regulations and sustainability standards.
Spring Wardrobe Refresh – The B2C Offer
Seasonality plays a big role in INTU’s services for individual clients. The spring season, with its traditional closet clean-outs, is one of the busiest times of the year. The team of seamstresses and tailors is working at full speed.
“We don’t just specialize in repairs — we’ve mastered the art of reconstruction and upcycling that goes beyond simple mending. This allows us to create entirely new, unique fashion pieces that help our clients stand out,”
says Veronika Czarnocka, co-founder and CEO of INTU Circularity.
“Our upcycling services for end customers include restoring damaged garments, making new clothes from used or returned items, customizing designs according to current trends, and creating timeless, high-quality pieces that blend style with modernity.”
INTU empowers socially excluded individuals by preparing them for jobs in the fashion industry through training and educational programs. The repair team often works on sweaters, pants, jackets, coats, blouses, and jeans. Holes in worn-out sweaters are patched using visible or invisible hand embroidery techniques, depending on client preferences.
Is Repairing Worth It?
INTU’s services target people of all ages who want to extend the life of their clothes. So far, most users are 20+ and live in urban areas, although interest is growing beyond big cities. These users are often environmentally conscious and sensitive to climate change, preferring to repair rather than discard.
Emotional and sentimental value also plays a key role. Many customers are attached to garments that have served them well over the years, often tied to important memories and life events. Rather than throw them away, they want to preserve and care for them.
Repair customers often include lovers of premium goods—luxury brands from Poland and abroad—that were expensive to purchase and need “refreshing” or fixing due to age or wear.
“Many of the items we receive are from well-known brands. Luxury fashion in Poland, including second-hand premium fashion, is experiencing a boom. More people are buying premium garments, and when they need repair, they come to us. We offer comprehensive, almost fully personalized services. Every item we revive is also refreshed and sent back beautifully and sustainably packaged — offering a whole new user experience,”
says Marta Lipka-Krawczyk, COO & Business Development at INTU Circularity.
“The cost of repair depends on the item, the extent and type of damage, and the finishing style. Craft-style finishing is the most expensive because it transforms the item’s look entirely and requires the most time and effort.”
Saving the Planet – B2B Solutions
INTU Circularity’s services meet evolving consumer expectations and comply with strict new EU regulations. Fashion brands working with INTU can differentiate themselves from the competition, reduce waste, and contribute to a circular economy.
For fashion and textile companies, INTU repairs defective items that would otherwise be discarded or upcycles them into new products. Based on in-depth consultations and trend analysis, INTU designs projects and creates new garments from recovered materials.
“In 2022, textiles ranked 5th in terms of resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and land use among 12 household consumption categories in the EU.”
Zofia Piwowarek, Co-Founder & Sustainability Manager at INTU, adds:
“Clothing companies that partner with us can better fulfill ESG goals, reduce costs, limit their environmental impact, and earn consumer trust. A brand’s sustainability policy increasingly influences its reputation — especially among Gen Z consumers, for whom protecting the planet is a top priority.”
Among INTU’s B2B clients is Answear — its largest partner to date. In May, INTU will begin another major collaboration with Westfield as part of the Westfield Good Festival.
It All Started on Bracka Street…
The origins of INTU Circularity trace back to Veronika Czarnocka’s personal initiative to create sustainable, upcycled fashion for both individual clients and clothing brands. After a year of solo work, Veronika decided to expand her team and looked for like-minded women to help turn INTU Circularity into more than just an upcycling company. Her goal was to spark positive change in the fashion industry.
Veronika’s background in Fashion Design from UAL in London made her acutely aware of modern fashion’s challenges, prompting her to seek more comprehensive, zero-waste solutions.
Soon after, Veronika posted on Instagram, looking for a co-founder. Marta Lipka-Krawczyk responded. With her experience in building and scaling a tech startup and working as a business developer at a fast-growing Polish zero-waste startup, Marta brought valuable knowledge to the table.
A few weeks later, Marta and Veronika connected with Zofia Piwowarek, initially for expert advice. Zofia—an expert in the circular economy and ESG, with experience at the UN and as a lecturer at Lazarski University—quickly became an integral part of the team and soon joined as the third co-founder.
“We didn’t know each other before. No shared schools, no past projects, no mutual friends. And yet we instantly knew we wanted to move forward together. It was a leap of faith — full of uncertainty and risk. But none of us has regretted it, even for a moment. From the very first conversation on Bracka Street in Warsaw, we knew we shared a passion and a goal. And that we wanted to build more than a brand — we wanted to create a movement. Intuitively, from the heart, with respect for the planet and for people,”
says Veronika Czarnocka, CEO at INTU Circularity.
Source: European Environment Agency, “Circularity of the EU textiles value chain in numbers”
