The Sheltersuit Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Dutch designer Bas Timmer that helps homeless people survive on the streets, is collaborating with AZ Factory, the fashion house of the late designer Alber Elbaz. Richmont director Mauro Grimaldi confirmed this to the US trade magazine Women’s Wear Daily.
Online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter will start selling a range of small bags and backpacks this month. Proceeds from each product will be used to fund a shelter bag, which will be donated by local organizations to a person in need, reports WWD. A shelterbag is a portable, sheltered bed for the homeless that rolls up into a bag. “You buy a gift for a friend and donate to someone you don’t know who is in need. We like the idea,” Grimaldi told WWD. The bags are priced at 180 euros and the backpack at 650 euros.
The collaboration is part of AZ Factory’s “Guest Amigo” program. The program started in March with a collection by South African designer Thebe Magugu, followed by guest collections by design duo Ester Manas and designer Lutz Huelle.
In March, Sheltersuit launched a clothing line that was presented as part of Paris Fashion Week. The collection is called “People Helping People” and was visually inspired by the clothes of the homeless. Timmer wanted to create additional financial income for the foundation with the line and become more independent of the benevolence of generous donors.
Eight years ago, Timmer started the Sheltersuit Foundation after learning that a friend’s father had died of hypothermia after spending a night in the freezing cold. Timmer, who was still a fashion student at the time, wanted to help the homeless. This is how the Sheltersuit was born, a rain and cold resistant jacket that converts into a sleeping bag and is made from old sleeping bags and tents.
This translated and edited post previously appeared on FashionUnited.nl.