Inside Out

Textile workers, Inside Out program, Antwerp, Belgium - © city of Antwerp
Textile worker, Inside Out program - © city of Antwerp
Textile workers, Inside Out program, Antwerp, Belgium - © city of Antwerp
Textile worker, Inside Out program - © city of Antwerp
Textile workers, Inside Out program, Antwerp, Belgium - © city of Antwerp
Textile worker, Inside Out program - © city of Antwerp

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Inside Out

Status

ongoing

City

Antwerp

Main actors

City Government, Supranational / Intergovernmental Institutions, Private Sector

Project area

Whole City/Administrative Region

Duration

Ongoing since 2007

The city of Antwerp has turned the challenge of integrating refugees into the labour market into an opportunity to transition to a circular economy.

Inside Out is an innovative scheme that combines social care with work experience and education to give newly arrived refugees with textile and clothing experience the support they need to gain self-esteem, secure jobs and contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry. The city’s social welfare organisation, OCMW Antwerp, saw an opportunity to open doors to the labour market for refugees while also reinvigorating the local fashion industry by bringing production back from abroad and promoting circular principles.

Originally published by EUROCITIES, the network of 130 European cities - PDF: http://nws.eurocities.eu/MediaShell/media/participation_Antwerp.pdf

For further information about the case study, click here.

Sustainable Development Goals

Eurocities Awards

This project was shortlisted for the 'Eurocities Awards' in 2017 in the following category: Participation.

Learn more

As part of OCMW's service portfolio, the Inside Out project has access to its 200 social workers. These social workers are in touch daily with the city’s vulnerable groups and ideally placed to identify refugees with relevant backgrounds. Following assessment and acceptance, individualised support packages are created and those for whom work experience is appropriate are offered temporary labour agreements for up to a maximum of two years. The project helps vulnerable adolescents and children, single mothers and the poor by combining three areas of activity: a clothing store, a tailoring and alterations studio and social care. The latter aims to emancipate and empower people to improve their chances of securing work, through training, guidance and one-to-one coaching. Activities focus on everything from hair and make-up to housing, personal hygiene to styling, and body language to managing stress. Group workshops are also offered to enhance people’s social skills, expand their personal networks and help them integrate into society.

The social clothing store and studio are where the project’s vision comes alive. The shop provides much more than new clothes and styling advice – offered for free to job-seekers and at low cost to families referred by their social worker. It’s where refugees can work as sales assistants to develop communication and sales skills that will help them realise their career ambitions. And it’s how unwanted or damaged stock donated by the project’s clothing industry partners is saved from landfill and incineration. Vocational and skills training and hands-on experience in clothing modification, tailoring and product innovation are offered in the studio to put participants on a more even footing with others in the labour market. And what they learn about textiles and clothing waste, recycling and upcycling, gives them additional knowledge of value to employers. The upcycling activities that began organically to deal with shop overstock have led to the launch of a range of bags made from old jeans and folders made from old banners and flags - sales of which now fund sewing machine maintenance and repairs.