Local production
CUSTOM PRODUCTS WITH POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT
At our well-equipped sewing atelier in Zürich Binz, we specialise in producing custom-made textile products for a variety of organisations, corporations, non-profits and small labels that care about the same issues we do. Whether you are looking for upcycled corporate gifts, merchandise for your conference or event, or simply seeking locally-based manufacturing support, we offer a range of ecologically and socially sustainable solutions to fit your needs.
Production at Social Fabric serves as a pillar in our role as a non-profit organisation and through this we are able to provide work integration and educational programs for tailors with refugee backgrounds. Together with our participants, we support a holistic approach to self-determined integration.
As a principle, we use and promote sustainable fabrics and upcycling technologies in an effort to keep our ecological impact to a minimum while also advocating for a circular economy.
By choosing Social Fabric to produce your textile products, your items will carry an uplifting story of respect, community, sustainability, transparency and positive social impact.
Latest Collaborations
ARLBERGLOVE is a company founded by experienced ski addicts, who design neck warmers for all deep snow lovers, piste carvers and racers. Since the Fall of 2022, Social Fabric produces limited edition ski and snowboard neck warmers for their collections.
ZI KA DE designs bomber jackets from (no longer) used kimonos and other traditional Japanese textiles. Each jacket is unique and made from fabrics with a rich history. Since 2022, Social Fabric has been the production partner for ZI KA DE.
HEAR WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
“I had an excellent experience with Social Fabric, who produced my first collection of long-sleeve illustrated blouses. Ruth and Fatima took time to guide me through the prototype development and the production steps so the final product fitted what I had in mind. The whole team always welcomed me warmly and I could easily discuss my project with them. I am very happy to have a product that not only is nicely crafted but also has a positive impact.”
Marie Le Dantec
MLD Illustration
“Social Fabric helped me to assess what would be the best project for the material we wanted to recycle and made the whole process really easy for us. Having pencil cases upcycled from our own old plastic banner flags, it provided us with give-aways for our clients with a story. Another advantage was to display our commitment to sustainability.”
Elodie Duvaldestin,
Vontobel Asset Management AG
ADDITIONAL OFFERS
Upcycled
Corporate Gifts
Turn your used advertisement materials into upcycled corporate gifts with positive social impact and share the spirit of sustainaibility.
New advertisement materials are printed out every day as offers expire and details change. This, however, does not have to mean that the materials need to go to waste after serving their initial purpose. We are here to help you bring the materials back into circulation by creating beautiful and one-of-a-kind corporate gifts out of them.
Printed Fairtrade Merchandise
We collaborate with the Indian social enterprise Joyya for our GOTS-certified merchandise, including organic Tee's and printed bags.
Joyya empowers women and their families in Calcutta by training and employing them and bring joy into everyday life. They were rated A+ in The Ethical Fashion Report 2021 which is a project of Baptist World Aid Australia, in partnership with Tearfund New Zealand. Within 98 companies only 4 companies reached A+ in overall grade.
Our production team
Ruth Knipping
Head of Production & Education
ruth(at)socialfabric.ch
Ruth Knipping - Graduate Engineer Textile and Clothing Technology, Textile Printing - has 20 years of experience in the globally operating textile industry. In her past positions as material manager, Ruth placed a strong focus on the sustainable production and procurement of fabrics, always respecting aspects of team-oriented and socially inclusive standards. After being a longtime member of the Social Fabric’s board, Ruth took a more active role in August 2021 as a Head of Production & Education. Ruth appreciates Social Fabric as a place that promotes integration, respect, social justice and a sense of community.
Kouassi Amoussou Doh
Production Team Member
AOZ GEP Participant
Kouassi came to Switzerland in 1997 from his home country of Togo. Since the end of 2018, Kouassi has been working as a tailor for Social Fabric as part of the AOZ’s GEP (Gemeinnützige Einsatzplätze) program. Kouassi brought a lot of experience in tailoring to Social Fabric. After he completed his studies in France, he completed a three-year apprenticeship in the textile trade in Togo, followed by a six-month internship under the guidance of a master tailor. He has worked as a freelance tailor for over eight years, and is hoping to return to Togo after working for Social Fabric to open his own studio.
Fatima Hasanzadeh
Production Team Member
Apprenticeship
Fatima's family is originally from Afghanistan, but she was born in Iran and lived most of her life there. She started sewing at an early age, when she was only seven years old, and learned the basics on her own. Later, she worked for several sewing ateliers in Iran and Turkey. She came to Switzerland in 2016, and joined Social Fabric in February 2021 through AOZ’s GEP (Gemeinnützige Einsatzplätze) programme. She is keen on taking her sewing skills even further, and her goal is to make a career for herself as a fashion designer.
Hanna Berhane
Production Team Member
Hanna is originally from Eritrea but lived in Ethiopia and Sudan before arriving in Switzerland ten years ago. She first joined Social Fabric in 2018 as a participant in Open Sewing Course. Only a year later, Hanna started volunteering and took an active role in the community. She led the course of Open Sewing Course with other volunteers and built on her 1-year experience of studying to be a tailor in Sudan. Additionally, she helped to organise the Summer Projects, Christmas Markets, and Tuesday Evenings for Members. In September 2022, she joined the Social Fabric's production team. Hanna appreciates the social atmosphere of the atelier and the sense of belonging it brings.
Nassibe Haydari
Production Team Member
HEKS programme participant
Nassibe likes to sew. Since arriving in Switzerland, Nassibe started sewing as a hobby. An Afghan colleague told her then about Social Fabric. Nassibe is also from Afghanistan but lived in Iran for two years before she had to flee again. She first joined Social Fabric for a Summer Project and then continued to attend the Open Sewing Course for three years. Since 2021, she has been a production team member within the HEKS programme. She supports us two days a week. Nassibe is a single mother of five children. She appreciates the community, the beautiful, bright atelier room, and the positive atmosphere. "There is never any stress here!"