Fabric Aid – The Fabric Of Giving
FabricAID is a Lebanese social enterprise that aims to establish a socially and environmentally conscious value-chain for the apparel industry.
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From a simple idea to an ever-expanding social impact startup, Fabric Aid started in 2017 when an idea came to mind to Omar Itani, one of our founders. Many give away the clothes they no longer use and some simply throw them away. Omar’s idea was to collect these clothes, sort them, wash them, and mend them, before selling them at micro prices to disadvantaged communities. His goal was to provide a dignified shopping experience for people living in marginalized communities while encouraging a sustainable way of living.
In the last five years, we focused all our efforts to create solutions that close the circularity gap in fabric waste while our main goal was to impact the lives of as many people as possible. We started with creating Souk El Khlanj. The four stores located in Akkar, Tripoli, Bourj Hammoud, and Wadi el Zayni give underprivileged communities access to decent clothes sold for small prices. The Second Base store in Monot was created for the more unique items we receive, with a larger price ticket, that capture the attention of the more fashion-oriented public. Sales from these stores ensure our continuity. They fund our extensive operations and pay the salaries of our growing team.
We then created Souk Okaz so people can buy and/or sell second-hand clothes while eliminating the middle-man. This operation is self-sufficient and independent of the donation cycle. Clothes that cannot be resold in retail get upcycled through collaborations between local designers, disadvantaged tailors, and international brands via our RemAID project. The rest is turned into internal walls made of fabric by mechanical or chemical recycling through our FabricBASE project.
Our journey has been very challenging and very rewarding. Today, we continue to expand, both online and on the ground. Our first step outside of Lebanon is through our website, an e-commerce platform for Second Base with a projected international access. Our expansion into Jordan is planned for the summer of 2021, while working for this to be our first step into the rest of the MENA region.
Your support means that we can reach more people and keep more clothes out of the dumps. You can donate the clothes that you don’t need, buy pre-loved items from Second Base, contribute with cash donations, or reach out to us for opportunities that can grow us bigger and take us farther. We’re counting on you!
Giving disadvantaged communities a dignified shopping experience, while encouraging a sustainable way of living
525,000
Items collected
150
Bins installed
170,000
Clothing items sold in retail
31,717
Direct beneficiaries
4
Souk el Khlanj branches and counting
60,000
Kilos of reduction in the use of pesticides and fertilizers
33,000
Plastic bags recycled in the making of our bins
720 M
Liters of reduction in water consumption
540,000
kilos of carbon emission reduced
50
Full time employees
Five years of continuous development, from a simple idea to an ever-expanding social startup
2017
The Beginning of FabricAID
Start of pop-up shops
Start of bin installations and launch of partnerships
Won the Denis Pietton Award
Won the International GSCV competition
Opened first permanent store in Wadi el Zayni
2018
Ranked 6th of Forbes list for best startups in the Middle East
2019
Received the UN champions of the earth Award
Launched the LebRelief Upcyling project
Opened Souk El Khlanj store in Tripoli
Launched e-commerce for Second Base
FabricAID participates in UNEP Millennials Do It Differently Conference, Abu Dhabi
2020
Opened Second Base in Gemmayze and Monot, the store in Bourj Hammoud and Akkar and Souk Okaz in Hamra
2021
Rise 2030 x Sustain the World x FabricAID collaboration
Mark of the 150th bin installed
Jordan expansion
We need your support to keep growing and making more impact
Donate clothes
By donating your clothes through our bins and home pickups, you serve both a humanitarian and environmental cause
Buy from Second Base
Give a second chance to pre-loved unique clothes while maintaining a humanitarian and environmental cause.
Get in touch
We’re always open for new investment opportunities, partnerships and collaborations. If you think we can make a bigger impact together, please get in touch.
#makeaBIGGERimpact
This call for support is part of Berytech’s Impact Rise campaign, launched with the aid of MEPI, to help seven Lebanese social impact startups generate more awareness and get more support from potential clients, donors and investors. Join us in empowering them to make a bigger impact and shape a better Lebanon.
