Sheltersuit Foundation: Securing livelihoods one stitch at a time

Avery Dennison Foundation

June 4, 2026

Sheltersuit Foundation: Securing livelihoods one stitch at a time

Sheltersuit Foundation fundraiser, Bart Nijsink, showcases the Sheltersuit product.

A Sheltersuit is a windproof and waterproof jacket with an optional sleeping-bag attachment that provides immediate shelter for those living in colder climates. A ShelterBag is designed for warmer climates, functions as a waterproof, lightweight, portable bed with an extra compartment for personal items and rolls up into a bag. Both of these are produced by the Sheltersuit Foundation, a Dutch social enterprise that makes the two upcycled, weather-resistant products for people experiencing homelessness or who have been displaced by natural disasters.

In 2023, the Sheltersuit Foundation received an Avery Dennison Foundation (ADF) grant for its work that aligns with the Foundation’s Secure Livelihoods pillar. Sheltersuit exemplifies leadership in developing impactful products for the unsheltered, addressing waste streams through upcycled materials, and creating job opportunities for female refugees who are typically not engaged in workforce development.

According to Bart Nijsink, senior fundraiser and partnerships at Sheltersuit Foundation, the initial funding from the ADF grant in 2023 enabled the organization to launch the school program at its factory with its first cohort.

Sheltersuit classroom

Each 6-month cohort includes 6 refugee women who participate in sewing, production, and computer skills and language lessons. They also receive help with navigating government systems such as taxes, medical appointments, and childcare. Participants are paid throughout the course, with half going on to work at Sheltersuit and the other half moving on to other employment opportunities.

Among the school’s most powerful success stories is Anouk, a single mother of two who enrolled as a student and, within months, Sheltersuit saw her potential as the school’s coach and teacher. Nearly two years later, Anouk now guides each new cohort with sewing skills and the kind of encouragement that only comes from someone who has lived the experience.

“Word spreads naturally when current participants tell friends, and new students often arrive because someone they trust said the place is warm and they really take care of you,” added Nijsink. “It makes me happy to hear the positive encouragement.”

The school has changed more than just the numbers. Before the program launched, the factory was 80% male. Today, with women from the school joining the production floor, the balance has shifted, and Nijsink says the difference is felt positively by everyone.

Anouk Verlaek, coach of the Sheltersuit School

The partnership with Avery Dennison has gone well beyond a grant check. When Avery Dennison Foundation’s President Alicia Procello visited the Netherlands, she traveled to Enschede to see the factory in person. About a dozen Avery Dennison employees from the Dutch office joined, spending an afternoon touring the entire operation and helping insert mattresses into roughly 400 ShelterBags.

“It is an honor for the Avery Dennison Foundation to support Sheltersuit's good work,” Alicia Procello said. “Seeing it in person was powerful. We always appreciate the opportunity for employees to support in person.”

Every product is made from upcycled materials, sourced from fabric suppliers and donated by brands including Ten Cate, GoreTex Canada Goose, Balenciaga and Filippa K. The foundation aims to produce close to 10,000 products a year, donated to or purchased by organizations like the Salvation Army across Europe. To date, suits and bags have been delivered worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina, to name a few.

Sheltersuit is a place where the products and the people who make them are equally part of the mission. Workers grow in their skills, gain confidence, learn the language, and find their footing in a new country. Some go on to lead. And every jacket and bag that leaves the factory carries that story with it.

A team from Avery Dennison's Netherlands office toured Sheltersuit’s social factory and helped complete 400 ShelterBags for distribution.

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Sheltersuit Foundation: Securing livelihoods one stitch at a time

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