Social Fabric

Social Fabric Independent atelier in Zürich, combining local production and social inclusion under one roof.

There is a group for Social Fabric community on Facebook, please join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialfabriczurich

We also have a group on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Social-Fabric-Zurich/ – please join! Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/social_fabric_zurich/

01/07/2026

Atelier life through the eyes of

Last year, we welcomed the photographer Caroline Krajcir in our atelier on a Thursday to capture some moments of our everyday for Social Fabric’s 10 year’s anniversary.

Dynamic, colourful, social — the photos capture the spirit and soul of Social Fabric exceptionally. 

Thank you, Caroline, for those memories!

26/06/2026

And so, in this 37-degree weather, the first semester of this year’s Open Sewing Course concluded.

The heat didn’t stop the volunteers and participants from sewing together one last time before the summer holidays. Accompanied by the three ventilators, tirelessly spinning the air around our atelier, they gave finishing touches to their projects.

We’ve run the Open Sewing Course for eight years now. It’s a free-of-charge sewing course for people with refugee backgrounds, led by our amazing volunteers.

It takes place twice a week, on Thursday mornings and afternoons, pausing for summer and winter holidays.

Over the years, the course has been visited by 368 participants from over 40 nationalities, and it continues to be a beloved offer. Currently, both courses are full, with 30+ people on the waiting list.

When we first started the course, it was a loosely structured get-together centred on sewing. As interest grew and we had to accommodate more participants, the course became better defined.

Today, the course plan is built on 15 projects that build up sewing skills as well as vocabulary. It starts with simple cotton-fabric projects and leads up to sewing zippers or jersey.

The goal is to offer an easy-going space for people with refugee backgrounds where they can come together, enjoy our mutual hobby, practise German in a low-stress environment, and form friendships with other participants and volunteers.

While we consider the Open Sewing Course one of our most impactful programmes, we cannot take credit for it. The impact is almost entirely the work of our volunteers, who contribute over 800 hours each year to organising and leading the course.

And this is perhaps also a good example of what we are as a social fabric: a collective of textile enthusiasts (craftivists, if you will) who come together to create the positive change we want to see, one stitch at the time.

We are curious to hear what you think: Is 9 years a good lifespan for a backpack? 🤔For us, a product is sustainable if i...
22/06/2026

We are curious to hear what you think:
Is 9 years a good lifespan for a backpack? 🤔

For us, a product is sustainable if it is a) high quality and thus durable, and b) used frequently. The more you use it and the longer you have it, the more sustainable it is.

Here’s our managing director Lisa in the Moroccan desert with the Wandelbar Rucksack. She bought it nine years ago and has been using it ever since.

It’s great to see that the backpack, which was designed by our former production manager Helka Mäki and produced by our production team members Kouassi Amousso Doh and Javid Atai, has stood the test of time. At least in our opinion!

But let us know what you think. 💭

PS! This backpack is no longer in production, but we still have a few pieces available in our online store at a reduced price ✨Go check it out www.socialfabric.ch/shop

19/06/2026

When we say our atelier is visited by at least 50 people per week, this is what we mean. How many can you count? 👀✨

The first semester of 2026 is slowly but surely coming to an end. From the beginning of July, we’ll give our beloved sewing machines a well-deserved break and pause all community activities during the summer holidays. We’ll resume with the second semester on 20th August.

That said, we do like to think ahead, and are currently planning a public course or two for autumn. We haven’t run courses outside of our community for a while, but we are curious to engage with those of you who can’t join us for membership but would still like to learn a bit of sewing.

Are there any specific topics or projects around sewing or textiles that would be particularly interesting for you? Let us know in the comments!

17/06/2026

For the past decade, our atelier has been located just above the Walter Buchmann Bakery in Zurich Binz.

In the mornings, we often grab Gipfeli 🥐 to start our day, and at noon, our team members head downstairs to pick up lunch. If we need a change of space, you’ll find us in the bakery having a meeting over a cup of coffee.

In 2025, Buchmann headed upstairs and became our biggest customer of that year.

We have had the honour of producing over 200 aprons and bread bags for them. In most Buchmann bakeries, you can see employees proudly wearing Buchmann x Social Fabric aprons, modelled on our zero-waste apron Vincent. 👏

This collaboration feels very special. Not only do we get to see our aprons in action each day and receive feedback directly from the employees, but it also beautifully reflects the kind of community values we want to see in this world.

Not only are the breads baked fresh each morning at Binz, but the baker’s aprons come from just around the corner as well. A true neighbourhood spirit.

So the next time you’re at Buchmann, picking out a delicious treat, take a moment and check out their aprons too. Fresh out of our “production oven”. ✨

16/06/2026

NURIA 🖤

— limited edition

A playful design combined with careful craftsmanship. Bold yet practical addition to any wardrobe, final touch to make any outfit stand out.

🇨🇭Made in Zürich
→ socialfabric.ch/shop

11/06/2026

Three weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting 38 policy makers from Singapore in our atelier.

For the second year in a row, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Executive Education visited Social Fabric as part of their Senior Management Programme. This year, the programme focused on the topic of “Policy & Leadership for Innovation and Sustainability.”

Over the course of three hours, we combined practice-based knowledge sharing with a hands-on example of the craft that binds our community together. While introducing Social Fabric in depth and reflecting on our experiences of fostering social inclusion as a social enterprise, each participant got to try their hand at sewing their own lanyard.

We believe that programmes such as this, which seek to exchange knowledge across borders in order to foster stronger, innovation-based inclusion policies, are a great example of international collaboration.

Thank you to the wonderful group from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Executive Education for joining us. We look forward to greeting you again next year!

Who said deadstock fabrics are “dead”?  🤔In the right hands, they can become statement pieces in your wardrobe — just li...
05/06/2026

Who said deadstock fabrics are “dead”?  🤔

In the right hands, they can become statement pieces in your wardrobe — just like the bold and dramatic Nuria Rüschentasche. A project that has been cooking in our production corner for the past year and a half under the nickname “Rushie”and that we are finally happy to share with you.

Working with deadstock fabrics at the production level presents both unique challenges and opportunities. On one hand, we can only produce in limited runs, with just a few identical pieces made and no possibility of reproduction.

On the other hand, we focus on versatile patterns that can be used with different fabrics. This allows us to offer the same model in multiple fabric and color variations, each with its own unique look and feel.

Currently Nuria is available in three colour ways: black, dark green and light blue.

Get yours now ♡
→ socialfabric.ch/shop

🇨🇭

Introducing NURIA Rüschentasche — our latest creation inspired by and created from deadstock fabrics. A playful design c...
05/06/2026

Introducing NURIA Rüschentasche — our latest creation inspired by and created from deadstock fabrics.

A playful design combined with careful craftmanship. Bold yet practical addition to any wardrobe, final touch to make any outfit stand out.

🇨🇭Made in Zürich

Available in three fabric options, each limited edition.

Get yours now ♡
→ socialfabric.ch/shop

11/05/2026

Here’s a post to show appreciation for handicrafts. 👏 Seeing a skill being put into practice is quite a sight. While there is a lot of talk about how AI will change the world as we know it by taking over jobs and redefining the value of certain skills, handicrafts continue to be an entirely human realm.

(Well, for now, at least.)

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Eichstrasse 29
Zürich
8045

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Montag 09:00 - 18:00
Dienstag 09:00 - 21:00
Mittwoch 09:00 - 18:00
Donnerstag 09:00 - 18:00

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