One Page Summary

The fashion industry is the 2nd biggest polluter to the environment after the oil industry and the 2nd cause of human trafficking after the sex industry.
21 million people are victims of forced labor around the world, of which 11,4 million are female. According to the Ethical Trading Initiative, 71% of fashion companies indicate there is a “likelihood of modern slavery occurring at some stage of their supply chain”. This is a $30 billion industry, fueled by a lack of transparency in unregulated production and illegal work practices.
45.8 million people are enslaved across the world only 1% is rescued and of them 80% get re-trafficked due to financial vulnerability. Greece ranks 5th in Europe at the Global Slavery Index (2016).

The biggest group in risk of being trafficked is refugees. 727, 000 immigrants are currently living in Greece with a residence permit, accounting for 7% of the population. Greece is the country of first arrival in Europe and has received 1,028,993 migrants from 1 January 2015 until 23 October 2016. Since January 2018 up today there have been 4,000 arrivals in Greece only by the sea (UNCHR, 19 March, 2018).

SOFFA provides for the livelihoods of refugees, migrants, survivors victims & unemployed Greeks

Our beneficiaries are offered vocational training in sewing and fashion design on a programme simulating real work conditions in Western labour markets. Trainees are empowered to create and sell their own garments and at the same time are being trained to be able to find employment in any European and North American factory. Trainees that complete the programme are awarded a Certification on Fashion and are offered employment in SOFFA main production unit or in collaborating Brands.

Vocational training happens through the mobile network of SOFFA Training Production Workshops located in refugee camps and shelters of survivor women. Vocational training also takes place in our SOFFA Main Unit now located in Agora Kypseli. Training happens in real orders which are sold to our international customers. Trainees who work on real orders are being remunerated allowing for the provision of their livelihoods early on in the programme. Trainees are also empowered through a DIY approach to upcycle our waste to produce bags, accessories and t-shirts of our SOFFA basic line patrons, which are then sold to end consumers in Agroa Kyp. SOFFA e-shop and SOFFA basic line collection is under development.

Our training protocol includes three levels of sewing: Textile Cutting and Assembly (Level 1), Pattern Making (Level 2), Fashion Design (Level 3). Classes take place 4 days per week, 4 hours a day for a total of 244 hours of instruction for every level.

We are creating mixed classes of both migrants and Greeks. We are also very careful in integrating women as well as men, keeping a scaled balance among gender. We are integrating all refugees and migrants from any religion, ethnic background or age group. Each class comprises people of different skill base and experience allowing for peer to peer mentoring through a pairing learning approach that we implement.

SOFFA collaborates with 11 front line organizations for the recruiting of beneficiaries; including, Action Aid Hellas, Orange House, Caritas Hellas, Caritas Athens, Praxis, Generation 2, Ena Paidi Enas Kosmos, Metadrasi, Organization Earth, Elpida Zois, Nea Zoi. Also A21, Red Umbrella of Thetiki Fwni, and Melissa in the next steps. 

SOFFA produces clothes, accessories and shoes from natural, man-made, vegan or recycled materials. It utilizes plant-based fabrics like tencel and PLA fabrics, recycled materials such as PET-based recycled polyester, econyl yarn, recycled cotton and other fabrics that comply with Oeko-tex standards and have been certified organic and Fair Trade.

SOFFA recycles and upcycles all its waste, turning it into clothes and accessories like shopping bags, backpacks and wallets.

Prizes and Media

-“One Over Many”, film By Swiss Director Daphne Bengoa, based on the story of SOFFA
- UN International Women’s Day 2018 speaker
- Women International Club- WIC SOFFA Film ‘One Over Many’ Screening 2018 at Theocharakis Foundation
- 2nd place award #HachTheCamp, organized by the US Embassy, the Onassis Cultural Center and Impact Hub Athens
- Semifinalist, The Venture - Chivas Competition 2016 for Social Entrepreneurs
- Skoll World Forum 2016 on Social Entrepreneurship in Said Business School Oxford University 
- Shortlisted for Skoll Venture Award 2016, Said Business School Oxford University
- Web summit 2016 A-list participant, Dublin

Press clippings (sample)
Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών
Ελεύθερος Τύπος
Καθημερινή
Popaganda
Elle

TV
Σύγχρονη Δουλεία - Ένα Διεθνές, Ειδεχθές Έγκλημα | Κανάλι της Βουλής
Εκπομπή “Social Growth” Επεισόδιο 1-11 | ΕΡΤ1
Σύγχρονη δουλεία, το έγκλημα του διπλανού ανθρώπου στο διπλανό άνθρωπο | Κανάλι της Βουλής
Soffa Interview | Skai TV
Fashion Revolution Greece @Loca Report | Mad Tv