La Fraternità is a social enterprise that provides a variety of services to public and private entities, including landscaping, cleaning, environmental and energy efficiency services, and the cultivation and processing of organic agricultural products. Rifò is a private company that produces high-quality clothing and accessories locally, using regenerated and regenerable fibres. This partnership was established to address Rifò's need for more storage capacity and expertise in managing large volumes of textile waste.
Through the partnership, La Fraternità handles the collection, selection, and shipment of used jeans with at least 95% cotton content to a plant that recycles textile fibres. Once the textiles have been recycled into yarn, Rifò purchases and uses this recycled yarn to produce sustainable clothing, such as sweaters and trousers, which it then sells through its platform.
The partnership has significantly reduced textile waste while contributing to the employment of individuals distanced from the labour market. It has supported La Fraternità’s mission of combining environmental and social goals, and enhanced its visibility and communication strategies. For Rifò, the partnership aligns its production process with circular economy principles, reducing the environmental impacts of manufacturing clothes and showcasing the viability of recycled yarns in fashion.
“Rifò’s motivation to create a collaboration with us came from the fact that they received materials, and as a small company with a small site, they quickly filled their warehouse. This drove them to seek a partner to support their material management needs. La Fraternità has large spaces and qualified people capable of selecting and processing the materials. Consequently, Rifò chose to outsource the entire storage service to us, set up a collection point here, have us handle all the selection, and then purchase the materials once it has been processed for recycling.”
— La Fraternità Società Cooperativa Sociale representative
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