Fashion and textiles have always been industries full of crafts and craftsmanship. Entire villages would work together in harvesting, spinning, weaving and making clothes. Throughout the years and due to globalization and standardization the social impact of fashion and textiles became industries with a negative impact on society. At Hul le Kes we like to change that and bring the positive effects of the industry back to Western Europe again. We do so by reevaluate the human capital of our society, thinking outside the box and not to see the imperfections within people but their unique characteristics.

Social impact is directly made within our Manufacturing Studio and Recovery Studio. At our Manufacturing Studio we included vocational education and routes for people with a distance to the labor market within our daily business operations. Here we work together with Rijn IJssel (Vocational education institute in Arnhem) and Scalabor (labor development company in Arnhem region). At our Recovery Studio we work with people who suffer from mental or psychological problems, such as depression, social isolation or extreme fear of falling. Here we work together with our stakeholders Driestroom (human caretaking organization) and again Scalabor.

As being one of the biggest polluting industries in the world there is no doubt that fashion should change. At Hul le Kes we are working on an alternative, circular, system with much more valuation to our world’s resources. In order to obtain this, the company develops its products all in-house in an alternative way, likes to share knowledge and work together with stakeholders within and outside the industry.

The vast majority of the raw materials Hul le Kes uses are antique, vintage and second-hand. To collect old textiles Hul le Kes works together with 2Switch and Sympany. In a less frequent matter Hul le Kes works together with ReShare Store of the Dutch salvation army. Also more and more individuals are helping us by donating their old blankets, haberdashery and fabrics.

As a social enterprise Hul le Kes is financially supported by Rabo Foundation and Stichting DOEN. To start up the Recovery Studio Hul le Kes has financially been supported by the city of Arnhem. Next to financial support Hul le Kes is also supported by Deloitte within their scaling social enterprises program.

Supporting Hul le Kes in their social activities is possible in many ways. Donating materials, buying our products, financially or any other way. Would you like to support Hul le Kes? Contact us for more information.

Hul le Kes is a member of Social Enterprise NL.