From Found is a not-for-profit fashion social enterprise that encompasses style and quality with ethics and sustainability. We are for the trendsetters and groovers who move ahead of the fashion game with conscious steps.
Made in Adelaide, each piece is crafted by women from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. We use ‘found’ fabrics, including reclaimed, recycled and recovered textiles, to ensure our unique colour-popping creations take a stand against the environmental and ethical issues that result from fast fashion. Stand out and stand up for what you believe in with our one-off pieces.
Our Story
The From Found story began with a simple notion: that ALL women have skills and strengths to contribute and use in society, and every woman should have the opportunity to do so. When they don’t have the opportunity, we all miss out.
The From Found team is made up of women from different backgrounds, some born here and others came to Australia as refugees. We have a collection of different skills, experiences and qualifications, including fashion, design, marketing, social work, business, teaching and textiles. To us, it seems a no-brainer that the need for more ethical fashion options, and the many skills and talents refugee women possess, can work hand-in-hand towards incredible change- if just given the opportunity!
Women from refugee backgrounds possess many practical skills and talents, along with many strengths often unrecognised, such as resilience, creativity, incredible work ethic and the ability to adapt and overcome challenges. Oftentimes women have had professions in their home countries, with qualifications that go unrecognised when resettling in Australia. Because the women are nearly always responsible for setting up the home and settling the family in to their new life, they can become the most isolated members of the family, detached from wider groups and opportunities.
From Found will employ women to use their skills in sewing, while increasing their english capacity, their cultural knowledge and their confidence, working towards seeing them transition into other workplaces or further study.
Our Earth-rocking mission:
To bring creative, ethical and sustainable clothing to the mainstream fashion market through the employment of refugee and asylum seeker women.
Our Game-changing vision:
To see refugee and asylum seeker women empowered with skills and training, transition into the mainstream workforce in Australia and to educate and inspire consumers to choose sustainable and ethical fashion.
Our Gifts For You
Head Wrap: Each wrap is made from recovered fabrics, and is completely unique. It can be worn in as many different ways as your imagination allows!
*We will randomly select yours from our incredible range of head wraps- one of a kind, just for you*
Earrings: We are committed to reducing as much fabric waste as possible, so we have created two different style earrings to use up the smallest of fabric pieces. No earring is the same as another, we can't wait to surprise you with yours!
*We will randomly select yours from our incredible range of earrings- one of a kind, just for you*
Tote bag: Ditch the plastic when you shop, and use our tote for all your goods. Sewn in the bento style to maximise the space you have, while still ensuring a gorgeous design.
*We will randomly select yours from our incredible range of totes- one of a kind, just for you*
Limited, special crowd-funder price on our clothing:
You will be the first to know when our online store launches in late 2017! Purchase now at the special crowd-funder price, and you can be ready to order the piece that sings your style in time for summer. We make sizes 8-18, and remember, whichever of our garments you select to pre-purchase at the discounted rate, the design stays the same as the samples below, but you will have many different fabric combinations to chose from.
L-R: Crop, Shift Dress, Tunic, Culottes, Wrap Skirt
For more pics, see our website.
Timeline
When we raise the start up funds needed to begin, we will start employing and manufacturing mid-July 2017, with the goal to start selling in October 2017.
Keep up-to-date with our website, Facebook and Instagram to follow along each step of the way.