UPCYCLING

Giving textiles – and people’s life journeys – a new lease of life. 

The programme

Upcycling programme embodies the Paris Basketball Foundation’s commitment to the circular economy and vocational reintegration. The principle behind it is to give a new lease of life to our unused sports textiles (jerseys, training kits, towels, etc.), thanks to the expertise of employment-focused organisations that support people who are distanced from the world of work in creating new career opportunities. 

In practical terms, our old kit is transformed, piece by piece, into unique, handmade items that have been completely reimagined. This meticulous work gives rise to very limited-edition collections, with all proceeds going to the Foundation. Behind each piece lie several hours of work, a craft in its own right, and, above all, careers in the process of being rebuilt.

Upcycling thus addresses a dual challenge. On the one hand, an environmental challenge: the management of end-of-life sports textiles, which are all too often destined for the bin when they could be transformed and given a new lease of life. On the other hand, there is a significant social challenge: the professional reintegration of people who are distant from the labour market, to whom this programme offers the opportunity to put their skills to good use, learn a craft, and find their place in society through work.

The beneficiaries 

This programme is based on a partnership with employment-focused organisations, which work with the people they support to develop activities that benefit their local communities, drawing on each individual’s skills and needs. By entrusting them with our textiles, we give them the opportunity to create, learn and rebuild their lives through work. 

Our commitment 

Through Upcycling, the Paris Basketball Foundation aims to demonstrate that every object can tell a different story: that of a textile finding a new lease of life, but also that of a career path getting back on track.