Erika Rodríguez Dorta and Emma Pérez Dorta uncover more commonalities than they had ever anticipated. Beyond their shared surname, a result of chance, they have discovered a mutual passion for sewing, an activity they never envisioned pursuing professionally.
At just 25 years old, Erika was inspired by her grandmothers, while the love for crafting also runs in Emma’s family. Nevertheless, they had never regarded it as a potential career until now. The ‘Sewing to Transform Green’ initiative has not only brought them together but also ignited their enthusiasm for continuous learning, collaboration, and ultimately, provided them with a new employment opportunity. They will soon join forces as colleagues at Hiebra Social.
This initiative was conceived with three key objectives: to provide training, enhance employability, and facilitate job placement for individuals facing social exclusion; as well as to breathe new life into clothing by transforming it into sustainable and eco-friendly products sourced from textile waste, offering an alternative model of consumption and ensuring each garment is one-of-a-kind.
These ambitious aims have been realised through Hiebra Social, an insertion company established by Inter-Ven, an association formed in 2011 in Tacoronte. Its primary mission is to implement actions that promote equality and the social and labour inclusion of individuals in vulnerable situations due to various circumstances. They also own Trampolín Solidario, which provides different services with a similar goal.
This regional project was submitted to an employment initiative by the Cabildo de Tenerife in 2023 and successfully trained 30 individuals last year in sewing techniques and workplace skills, while aiding them in refining their profiles to enhance their employability, explains Lupe Martín, the president of Inter-Ven.
At the start of 2024, the beneficiaries were divided into two cohorts; one commenced training in February, while the other began in March. For four months, they engaged in daily theoretical and practical lessons within the Training Classroom facilities, followed by internships in various companies. This group comprised 29 women and one non-binary individual. “As of now, the employment placement rate stands at 30%, since some are still in internships and we are continuing to support others,” Lupe notes.
“Insertion companies serve as a temporary resource. Our goal is for participants to progress through this stage, gain training, receive a salary in accordance with sector agreements, and while being trained, they are also supported by a social team to help them tackle personal issues and transition to other employment,” she elaborates.
Erika completed a project with Trampolín Solidario in Hospitality and promptly enrolled in the training, and she is already employed at Hiebra. Emma has been selected for a role and will soon join the team. Other classmates from the course have successfully secured positions at external companies.
Participants arrive with a referral from social services and are required to follow a specific insertion plan along with a commitment to their training. Having worked since the age of 17 in fashion retail, shoe stores, pharmacies, opticians, and as an administrative assistant, Emma’s life took a turn after the pandemic. She was compelled to move back in with her parents, and finding employment at 47 has proven challenging. “Previously, we held a different perception of people in vulnerable situations. Now, when I see someone on the street, I can’t help but think that could have been me just two years ago,” she shares with emotion.
This initiative has helped Emma build self-confidence. Erika experienced a similar transformation. “We engaged in activities designed to foster trust and improve communication. There were numerous emotional moments, laughter, and even tears. It felt like a form of therapy. A strong team was established, creating a positive atmosphere,” she adds.
Hiebra Social originated in El Pinar, El Hierro, an island devoted to environmental sustainability, and has since expanded to Tacoronte, where they opened a shop located on Casas Altas Street, number 1. Since last July, individuals have been donating clothes, shoes, and bags they no longer need. The team meticulously sorts and documents all incoming items. After this initial phase, they proceed to the warehouse for a first evaluation.
Lupe clarifies that garments in good condition undergo sanitisation since the company is equipped with the necessary machinery and are then sold as second-hand items. Alternatively, items that require repair are mended by trained personnel, like Erika and Emma, before being resold.
A third category consists of significantly damaged or unusable clothing that is creatively repurposed into entirely different garments displayed on a dedicated rack near the main entrance, as each item is unique.
All items are marked with “symbolic” prices and feature the company logo embroidered on them, proudly worn by the employees on their t-shirts.
Lupe emphasises the importance of receiving support from government bodies to implement these projects. She advocates for adherence to public sector contracting laws that mandate municipalities to procure services from insertion companies like Hiebra Social, which operates similarly to any other business. The key distinction is that profits are not distributed since Inter-Ven is the sole owner. Providing additional community services assists in making the operation financially sustainable. Therefore, alongside the sale and recycling of clothes, Hiebra Social offers various services aimed at clothing care and longevity, such as laundry, drying and ironing, garment repairs, personalised embroidery, and tailoring.
In El Hierro, they are achieving notable success. The Cabildo has tasked them with laundering bedding for the local nursing home, while the public company Tragsa has engaged them to clean blankets for migrants arriving by boat. Moreover, they are undertaking projects for the El Pinar City Council.
In Tacoronte, the City Council is providing support for training initiatives, allowing for the development of a similar ‘Sewing Opportunities’ project in the near future, which will utilise storage space and procurement of sewing and screen printing materials.
Lupe calls for job opportunities, as many municipalities in the region can benefit from their services. It is vital for Hiebra Social, a clothing enterprise that connects individuals and promotes environmental stewardship, to continue thriving.