For the Adelaide women behind fledgling ethical fashion label From Found, being referred to as social entrepreneurs is a slightly foreign concept.
As little as a year ago, sisters Lauren Bonnet, Annie Graetz, their family friend Hannah Materne were everyday South Australians with a passion for responsible fashion.
Now the trio, along with pioneering board member Mardiya Jawad, is busy stitching together the final threads in time for the launch of their first clothing range in November.
“It’s funny to think of ourselves as entrepreneurs, but we are,” says co-founder Hannah Materne.
“We’re all creative young women who are driven, motivated and passionate.
“Our value systems are at the core of what we do.”
From Found co-founders Lauren Bonnet, left, Mardiya Jawad, Annie Graetz and Hannah Materne.
The From Found range features eclectic and colourful women’s clothing manufactured in Adelaide.
The organisation pays wages to its workers with a refugee background, helping them to gain employment, build confidence and improve their English.
The women sew the clothing from leftover and recycled materials donated from the fashion industry.
As an example of social entrepreneurialism, From Found aims to solve a community problem rather than being driven solely by profit.
When leading international social entrepreneur Suzi Sosa visited Adelaide earlier this year for Entrepreneur’s Week, the Texan said SA had the opportunity to be national leaders in social entrepreneurialism.
The From Found story began in 2016.
Through Lauren’s work in community development, as well as having friends from refugee backgrounds, she saw the challenges refugee women faced in entering the workforce.
She saw an opportunity to combine the women’s strengths in sewing and creativity and create something that would allow them to build transferable skills and experience.
Lauren reached out to Mardiya who is from refugee background and understands the difficulties women face when trying to secure work.
With Annie’s experience in business and marketing and Hannah’s experience in the fashion industry, the women sparked the idea for a socially and environmentally responsible fashion enterprise.
A crowdfunding campaign secured more than $40,000 as well as donations of fabric and equipment.
From Found pieces are made from leftover and recycled fabric donated by the fashion industry.
From Found has since partnered with the Australian Refugee Association and currently employs three women from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria.
Based at a Renew Adelaide space in Hindmarsh Square, the ethical clothing label also takes a stand against the rise of ‘fast fashion’.
Fast fashion refers to clothing that is produced in poor working conditions and sold cheaply.
Due to its synthetic properties, cheap clothing is having a rising impact on the environment, with 6000kg of clothing and textile waste dumped in Australian landfill every ten minutes.
“Unethical fashion has a distinct impact on people all over the planet,” says Hannah.
“We want to buy a T-shirt for $5 but how do you even produce it for $5 without negative consequences?”
From Found clothing is made from cut-offs and recycled fabrics which are carefully selected before being sewn into one-off pieces.
“Our pieces are for the person who loves fashion, someone who’s not a trend follower, but a trendsetter,” says Annie.
From Found will soon open its online retail space via the website and will celebrate an official brand launch on November 5. For tickets book here.
From Found will also be at the Bowerbird Design Market at Adelaide Showground on November 24–26.