FabricAID

FabricAID seeks to create a socially and environmentally conscious value chain for the apparel industry through the collection, upcycling, and resale of second-hand clothing to needy communities at low prices. Founded in Lebanon by entrepreneur Omar Itani, FabricAID sells repurposed clothing through low-cost thrift shops and a branded chain of vintage stores. The social enterprise has expanded its operations to Jordan and the UAE, and in late 2021, closed a US$1.6m seed-funding round.

  • Organisation type Social enterprise
  • Year founded 2017
  • Headquartered Beirut
  • Registration Jordan · United Arab Emirates · Egypt · Lebanon
  • Website https://www.fabricaid.me

Related sustainable development goals

  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Life on Land

Impact

650,000 kg carbon emissions reduced

526,341 items collected

310,000 items sold in retail

139,000 people directly supported

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Environment
    • Recycling
  • Humanitarian
    • Thrift shops

Focus populations

  • Immigrants and migrants
  • Low-income people
  • Refugees and displaced people
  • Working poor

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • Lebanon
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Jordan
  • North Africa
    • Egypt

Partners

  • Aramex
  • Beirut Digital District
  • CMA CGM Foundation
  • CMA CGM Group
  • Education Above All
  • Harfouch Trading and Manufacturing
  • Jarrah Scouts Association
  • Lebanese Food Bank
  • Michel Daher Foundation
  • MODINT Netherlands
  • Monoprix
  • Naïve by Emné
  • Recreate
  • Rentokil Boecker
  • Taawon
  • The Volunteer Circle
  • Together for Chehim
  • Wakilni
  • Zamanouna

Programmes

  • FabricBASE

    Clothing that is damaged or unfit for resale is either upcycled or recycled via FabricBASE. Clothing is upcycled in collaboration with local designers, disadvantaged tailors, and international brands. This ensures no clothing items are discarded in landfills.

  • FabricMerch

    Under this programme, FabricAID turns scrap fabrics and clothing into mass-produced branded merchandise that is then sold to corporations.

  • OSAS

    Under this programme, FabricAID turns scrap fabric and clothing into unique items for sale in its upcycled retail brand store OSAS.

  • SALAD

    This programme turns donated clothes and suits unfit for resale into gender-neutral garments that are then sold under FabricAID's SALAD brand.

  • Second Base Boutique

    A small percentage of FabricAid donations consist of vintage, occasional, and costume clothing. These items do not serve the target market of Souk El Khlanj, who tend to be more conservative in their choices. These items are sold at competitive prices through the FabricAID thrift and vintage store, Second Base Boutique, to middle and upper-class communities. Clients can also sell their vintage items at the store and receive 25% cash back or 50% store credit for items sold.

  • Souk El Khalanj

    Souk El Khlanj outlets sell donated second-hand clothes to extremely marginalised communities at micro-prices - with the average price per item is under one US dollar. The items are cleaned, ironed, and tailored to ensure high quality and the outlets are fitted with dressing rooms and experienced sales people to ensure a dignified shopping experience. Some 78% of all FabricAid clothing donations are sold via Souk l Khlanj.

  • Souk Okaz

    Souk Okaz is a retail concept that enables people to buy and sell second-hand clothes at affordable prices. Customers are invited to sell gently-used clothes for cash back. No FabricAID donations are used in this programme. 

Financials

Primary funders

  • Alfanar
  • Government of the Netherlands
  • Impact Lebanon
  • The Asfari Foundation
  • Wamda
  • WeMed, Mediterranean Sustainability Award

Funding source

  • Fundraising
  • Revenue generation

Operations

Key staff

  • Omar Itani, founder and general manager
  • Herman van Uum, partnerships and grants manager
  • Nour Bassam, business development and partnerships manager
  • Loulya Halawani , senior marketing and sales manager

Board members

  • Omar Itani
  • Diane Fadel
  • Fadi Ghandour
  • Lubna Olayan
  • Asma Zein

Contact details

More

Resources

Resale revolution: the social enterprise upending the second-hand clothing market in Lebanon. Read more

Growing through a crisis: how social enterprise FabricAID swapped clothes for construction in the days after the Beirut blast. Read more

More from FabricAID:

End of year report 2023