With a tagline that proclaims power and strength, Kloth Woman Up believes in “Rising with #SHEconomy”, advocating for economically struggling women or those who want to uplift their skills and income through creative sewing. This initiative harnesses two often-overlooked resources—unwanted textiles and underutilised skills—transforming them into a force for positive change across economic, social and environmental spheres.

Led by women from Kloth Circularity, a social enterprise focused on combatting textiles, clothing and plastic waste, Kloth Woman Up was established in July 2020. Since then, it has empowered many struggling women from marginalised communities in Singapore and Malaysia, helping them secure employment by producing over 38,000 pieces of upcycled merchandise and gifts.

The initiative aims to engage more women, improving their social standing and financial circumstances while promoting a positive environmental impact. Kloth Woman Up aspires to extend its reach globally, offering the same benefits to women around the world as it has to Zakat beneficiaries in Singapore.

Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project 

True to their principle of “leaving no one behind”. Kloth Circularity has been collaborating with District South Mosques (which oversees mosques within the Southern part of Singapore) to provide training to local female Zakat beneficiaries. The training includes creative sewing skills to upcycle unwanted textiles and clothing waste into merchandise and gifts.

This initiative aims to tackle three major challenges: 1) address the need for sustainable income opportunities for female Zakat beneficiaries in Singapore, 2) reduce textile and clothing waste by upcycling them into merchandise and gifts, and 3) meet the growing demands for sustainably and locally made products. 

Having our female Zakat beneficiaries participate in this exciting initiative gives them a sense of control over their livelihoods by earning fair wages, knowing that they can acquire skills to make a living for their families and loved ones while still doing good for the environment.

“Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up was part of an initiative that promoted skills upgrading and lifelong learning. The program was meaningful, providing participants with a truly enriching and rewarding experience.” - Cik Mardina, Project Leader, Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up

Sewing Back Into the Fabric of the Nation

The Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project initiative began with ten female participants in October 2023, and since then, the number has grown to 23 Zakat beneficiaries actively participating in the initiative. The first training was conducted at Masjid Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah, followed by another at Masjid Jamae (Chulia).

The initiative focuses on teaching creative sewing skills with a strong emphasis on upcycled techniques. The female Zakat beneficiaries participating were taught how to repurpose unwanted and discarded textiles and clothes into new, attractive, and marketable merchandise and gifts. 

With this knowledge, there is no end to what these ladies can do. Their creativity led to the production of tote bags, pouches, soft toys, notebook sleeves and many more items from textile and clothing that many would deem “unwanted”. Turning pre-loved goods into new items is how they breathe life into what could have filled up incinerators and landfills.

In one of the modules, participants used unwanted denim fabrics and turned them into tote bags. The comprehensive training equips women with all the know-how of transforming discarded materials into worthy products. Their training includes an introduction to sewing tools, measuring and making fabric, cutting fabric, sewing straps, constructing pockets, and assembling into products such as bags.

How District South Mosques Play a Vital Role in This Initiative

District South Mosques have identified and gathered eligible female Zakat beneficiaries who can benefit from this initiative, depending on key factors such as their location, ability to travel and commitment level (which was determined by a 3-day pre-acceptance training session). As a key strategic partner, it champions the empowering of women in their role as change makers of not only their own selves but also of the community.

With their contribution, District South Mosques provided the tools these women need for the initiative, including sewing machines and equipment, and more importantly, a safe space where the participants can learn and hone their skills.

As part of the program, District South Mosques ensures that the female Zakat beneficiaries commit to the 6-month training schedule and all related activities at their respective centres. Participants are further incentivised with being able to bring home the sewing machines provided upon completing the program so that they can continue their passion and apply their newly acquired skills in practice.

On top of that, District South Mosques also purchased the bags and pouches made by their participants, with over 60% of the total sales proceeds channelled back to the beneficiaries, directly supporting both the participants by providing them income and the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project as a whole.

But this is not the first time that District South Mosques have partnered up with Kloth Circularity. In Ramadan 2023, they collaborated in a recycling drive by hosting fabric recycling bins in the premises of six of their mosques. To date, over 103,000 kg of textiles have been collected through this effort. This is equivalent to 618,000 T-shirts and 230,212 kg of CO2 emissions avoided.

“#SouthMosqueCares movement was introduced in 2022 by District South with aims to be part of many helping hands and caring hearts to serve the vulnerable and underserved segment in our community.

This shared aspiration can only be realised through strong partnership, collaboration and co-creation aligned with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. "The best among you are those who bring greatest benefits to many others", and Helen Keller's quote: "Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much".

We hope more creative programs can be curated for us to serve different segments in our community through this collaborative spirit inshaAllah.” - Ustaz Muhammad Hafiz bin Abdul Rashid, District Superintendent of Mosques, District South, Muis.

More Than Just Numbers and Figures

Through this initiative, participants earned S$4,876 by selling 420 pieces of repurposed merchandise and gifts. The participants also took part in their first marketplace event at the QuranSG Festival 2024 held at Masjid Sultan recently. Over the two-day festival, they generated S$1,327 in sales. It was a proud and emotional moment for everyone involved.

These sales included products individually created by the participants, items produced during their training, and Kloth Woman Up items from Malaysia, on which they earned a commission for each sale.

To date, the initiative has successfully upcycled 30 kilograms of textile and clothing waste, equivalent to 180 pieces of t-shirts and 67 kg of CO2-e emissions avoided.

But how do these numbers translate to the impact these women have made on their livelihoods?

Normah, a mother of six, joined the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project to improve her sewing skills and support her family financially. Before joining, she struggled to make ends meet, relying solely on her husband’s income. Since enrolling, Normah’s confidence and skills have grown, allowing her to take on more orders and contribute to her household’s income.

Haslina, a single mother of four, joined the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project to earn extra income and improve her skills for a better future. She has learned not to leave her progress to chance, recognising that learning today is an investment in greater growth tomorrow.

Another participant, Hayati, said, “I love handicraft work. Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project gives me the courage to go beyond my limits and see how far I can reach. The atmosphere is warm, with friends and mentors who feel like family. It's a place where we share our struggles and find time away from our daily commitments to be ourselves. When we had the chance to open the booth, I saw the joy in everyone's eyes as they showcased their skills. I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity and hope we stay close even after our journey together ends.”

Challenges of the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project initiative

As with many pilot community programs, this initiative had its fair share of hurdles. One was the difficulty in encouraging participants to commit to the program. Some found it hard to follow through with the schedule due to conflicting family commitments, while others had their doubts about the benefits of this project. With ears on the ground, the project organisers, along with Muis, responded by creating a welcoming and dedicated training space which provided structured and practical learning opportunities. And those who followed through until the completion of their training recognised the benefits they reaped.

Another challenge was in generating significant customer demand to ensure that participants could earn a sustainable income. To overcome this hurdle, the team invested in more strategic marketing to increase visibility of the project. With the strong support of District South Mosques, the project was able to reach a much wider audience and create more sales opportunities, ultimately driving the project's success in achieving its goals.

A Tight-Knit Bond

Stronger than the stitches sewn by the hundreds, if not thousands, in the initiative, was the camaraderie forged between the ladies who signed up for the project. They came together not knowing each other initially, but through the initiative, the environment became one of support and a place to share their experiences and life struggles. They looked forward to every training session, knowing that they could find solace in one another. Many have expressed a strong preference for continuing to work in this collaborative setting rather than merely sewing alone at home, as the sense of community forged through hardship and growth became a vital part of the fabric of their experience.

“The program aimed to empower stay-at-home mothers and provide mutual social support. After two batches of participants, I am impressed by their camaraderie and the supportive spirit they show one another.” - Nur Dina Amalina, Senior Social Development Executive, District South

The future of the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project Initiative

Good news for those who may be interested: There are plans to scale up the initiative by implementing more collaborative efforts with more mosques and community centres. This will allow the initiative to reach new areas and impact many more beneficiaries.

Furthermore, the team at Kloth Circularity are already making ways to build stronger partnerships and customer base in Singapore so that they can secure consistent orders. This will ensure that the current beneficiary groups have a stable income. While training is essential, ensuring that existing beneficiaries can still generate sales through corporate projects is important, thus paving the way for long-term financial support for the women in the Kloth Woman Up x Thread Up Project.

The all-women-led social enterprise has also expressed a keen interest in exploring other skills, such as repair services and creating more handicraft items for the business-to-consumer (B2C) market. With such an expansion, we can expect a greater diversity in products and services that these women can offer and, more importantly, open up new income streams for them, further enhancing their financial empowerment.

Also, the future of Kloth Circularity looks promising due to its involvement in Sembcorp's Closed-Loop Partners Network, launched in 2024. This collaboration aligns with Kloth Circularity as a collective vision of promoting a circular economy, which is vital for sustainable development. The network aims for a Zero Waste Nation, which enhances Kloth's role in providing innovative recycling opportunities for consumers and businesses. By engaging with other notable members and expanding waste management solutions, Kloth Circularity can influence consumer behaviour while benefiting from shared expertise and resources, driving long-term growth and sustainability in its operations.

The Fine Thread Between “Irrelevant” and “Beneficial”

Kloth Woman Up does more than just recycle and upcycle what many of us would deem as waste. They empower women from marginalised, struggling and vulnerable communities by creating job opportunities for them, providing women such as Zakat beneficiaries, a platform and a network for them to contribute not only to their families but also be an integral part of the economy and environmental movement to reduce waste.

From initially feeling disheartened they are unable to contribute nor own, these women now have the firm belief they can create many things and bring benefit to others. Just like the upcycled textiles and clothing waste they work with, so too do these women “upcycle” their lives and believe in empowering fellow women to be a contributing force and have a positive impact on society.

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