FRIP’VIE

A Social and Solidarity Economy organization created in 1997 and recognized under the 2005 Social Cohesion Act.

The organization welcomes and employs 150 people undergoing professional transition, supported by 15 permanent staff members in roles such as warehouse operators, drivers, sorting agents, seamstresses and sales assistants.

Each year, the organization collects between 650 tonnes of textiles and accessories (clothing, shoes, household linen, bags, etc.). These items are processed and sorted in its workshop located in Grand-Charmont, then given a second life through its four retail stores in Valentigney, Montbéliard, Héricourt and Maîche.

A training store was established in 2019 to manage unsold items from the stores and, above all, to prepare employees for retail positions before their placement in the shops. The creation of a sewing workshop has enabled the production of items made from Verquelure fabric for the local tourism office, aprons for craftsmen and cutters working in a textile manufacturer, as well as new products created from collected materials (textile waste otherwise destined for landfill), including denim sports bags and pouches.

Since September 2019, FRIP’VIE has developed an upcycling activity in partnership with the Tissons La Solidarité network, combining textile waste and unsold garments from fashion brands. This activity requires prior training (currently underway) and strict compliance with the specifications of major retailers.