Starting in the first week of November, an initial 100 Sheltersuit protective suits donated by URW will be distributed to homeless people in need across Germany. The ensemble is a multifunctional, windproof, waterproof and warming garment that converts into a sleeping bag and can ease the symptoms for people experiencing homelessness, designed by Dutch fashion designer Bas Timmer. They are made of upcycled materials, such as donated sleeping bags or blankets.
In addition, URW is launching a comprehensive online and offline information offer in the participating shopping centers to educate and raise awareness around the topic, support the initiative via the respective social media channels and call for further donations.
Germany-wide support initiative and promoting integration
In the first phase from November to December, 12 assets from URW’s management portfolio are participating across Germany–in the Stuttgart area. In the second phase at the beginning of 2022, further locations will follow in North Rhine-Westphalia.
One piece of the protective suit has a value of 300 euros, which includes not only the material and production costs, but also the wages of the employees of the social workshop in Enschede, the Netherlands. The team also comprises people seeking protection, e.g. women and men who have fled to Europe from crisis regions around the world. Since 2014, more than 15,000 suits have been produced and distributed worldwide.
“It’s great to see corporate organizations take social responsibility. Homelessness and other seemingly insurmountable problems we see in the world today will only be solved through meaningful collaborations and partnerships,” says Paul Zurink, campaign manager at Sheltersuit.
“For us at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, charitable and social commitment is an integral part of our corporate strategy and core to our ‘Better Places 2030’ agenda. The cooperation with Sheltersuit and the local social aid organisations is an important example of this, so we are very happy to be part of this project,” says Ivica Pavusek, Head of Center Operations Austria & Germany and responsible for sustainability at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
