Upcycling for Uplifting

Supporting craftswomen in Bangladesh during the pandemic.

Upcycling for Uplifting is about giving continues work for local traditional weavers and artisans in rural Bangladesh. This campaign is made to fund SICA's upcycled bag collection, which has been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our bags are made with love and meant to last. Bringing this collection to life directly benefits economically our artisans partners and their communities. It contributes to shifting the fashion industry toward a social and environmental responsible one.

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Funding period

8/18/21 - 9/19/21

Realisation

August until December 2021

Website & Social Media

Minimum amount (Start level): 9,000 €

The success of the crowdfunding will allow covering artisans salaries, materials and shipping for producing our collection.

City

Berlin

What is this project all about?

SICA UPCYCLING DESIGN is a label that weaves a new future. At SICA, we transform the world through fashion by investing on long term partnership for positive impact on the planet and people’s life.

Upcycling:
We minimize the impact of the textile industry by upcycling textile waste. Over the past 07 years we have been making a significant impact by avoiding more than 2 tons of post-industrial textile waste to go to landfills.

Support local crafts:
We create products that are unique and honor the legacy of crafts and fine textiles of Bangladesh.
Up until today, SICA impacted the life of more than 50 skilled artisans supporting them as individuals within a fair working environment and helping to preserve their traditional weaving techniques.
SICA makes 100% locally made product, developing educational spaces within the workshops exchanging and training the artisans in new skills, allowing them to transfer the knowledge through their community and empowering them to extend their work in other areas and partnerships.

Social Economy:
Simone, the founder of SICA, plays a vital role in continually mentoring the local artisans. The sales of SICA collections provide the support needed for the makers community to sustain itself and grow. Helping the artisans to develop their skills while raising employment and labor standard, in accordance with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Helping #10 Reduced Inequalities and bringing #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Through the Upcycling for Uplifting campaign, we will be able to continue supporting our weaver partners during the hardship of COVID-19 pandemic, providing steady fair trade work opportunities and enabling them to make a sustainable living out of their crafts.

We upcycle for uplifting lives.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

The goal of this campaign is to support and uplift the life of our artisans partners in rural areas of Bangladesh, through the funding of SICA new bag collection.

We have been working on new designs and restructuring our business model to be able to provide continuous work and sustainable living to our artisans partners Razia Begum, Johora Begum, Bilkis Akhter, Hasina Begum, Rokhshana Begum, Mashuda Begum, Hashi Begum, Aziton, Shahinur, Shahana Begum, Ferdousi Begum, Shorif, Golenur, Sobi, Lota, Sharzina and Aklima, Shilpi roy, Anita Roy, Balbi and Sumi that give life to our exclusive designs.

Due to the pandemic, fashion brands have canceled orders in Bangladesh. The local textile industry has seen a decline of more than 84%, leaving 1 million workers out of work.

Even with all the challenges that the pandemic brought, we decided to continue developing our new collection, working remotely with our partners in Bangladesh. We also provided additional financial help to our weavers in 2020, supporting basic needs for them and their families.

Our bags are well made, meant for many years of wear. We make our products for conscious people, interested in quality and craftsmanship that contribute for a positive impact on the planet and people.

Bringing this collection to life has a direct social impact by keeping our commitment to uplift the life of our weavers.

Why would you support this project?

SICA’s dream mission is to live in a world that fashion is fair and doesn’t work with the concept of waste.

So, supporting this campaign throws light on:

Supporting a small brand with purpose;
Having a unique and exclusive product that brings a positive impact to our environment by reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry;
Support SICA to give continuous work now for at least 20 artisans directly, impacting their communities, and many more workers indirectly.

You can be part of the change that is needed to help the fashion industry to become more sustainable and fair to our planet and people.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded?

The making of SICA bags has a direct social impact in decentralised areas of Bangladesh.

By keeping our commitment Uplifting the life of our artisans partners, each artisan can directly influence their communities.

The benefit from their work generates either affording their own studies to go to the University, generating income to support their family members or either being able to send their kids to school so they can have a better future.

The success of the crowdfunding will allow covering the following production costs:

Artisans salaries;
Materials for making the bags;
Shipping costs
Administrative expenses

Who are the people behind the project?

The initiatior of this project is SICA, an upcycling design label from fair production that textile waste while preserving traditional crafts.

Founded by Simone Simonato in 2006 in Brazil, the label SICA expanded in 2014 into Berlin and Bangladesh with the line ‘Proudly made in Bangladesh’.
SICA outsources textile clipping-waste from the Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry (RMG) and brings them into the hands of the skilled craftswomen in rural Bangladesh.

It has been vital for the founder of SICA to spend a lot of time in Bangladesh along these past years, nurturing the relationship with the makers and local organisations. Personally researching and living within these communities, Simone explores with the artisans to help develop their skills while providing fair employment and support.

The role in Berlin is not only to give visibility to Bangladeshi crafts, but also to connect and collaborate with its thriving sustainable design community. SICA team grew along the past months in order to bring this collection to life. Our team is located between Brazil, Germany and Bangladesh.

Simone continues to work as an initiator, acting locally and thinking globally providing positive solutions in the fashion industry.

SICA UPCYCLING DESIN