On February 6, 2025, Emérence van Daalen, Global Marketing Director, and Erwin Boswijk (Footwear consultant) had the pleasure of visiting the Sheltersuit Foundation in the Netherlands.
If you’re not familiar with Sheltersuit, it’s a portable, durable, and weatherproof shelter designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness. However, after meeting the incredible team behind it, it becomes clear that Sheltersuit is not just a product—it’s a movement.
Sheltersuit employees receiving and trying on Bata Industrials safety shoes
The Impact
The Sheltersuit Foundation has expanded its reach to Europe, the UK, South Africa, and the US, adapting designs to meet local climates and needs while providing life-saving suits to vulnerable communities worldwide. Since its inception, the Sheltersuit Foundation has made a profound impact, distributing thousands of suits to homeless individuals, refugees, and those who have become homeless due to disasters or conflicts. These products aren’t meant to replace finding a home, but to provide essential support when no other options are available.
The Sheltersuit is a wind- and waterproof jacket that transforms into a sleeping bag, offering immediate shelter. It consists of a jacket, sleeping bag, and duffel bag for easy portability. The outer shell is made from high-quality, breathable, and waterproof tent fabric, while the inner lining is crafted from upcycled sleeping bags, making each Sheltersuit one-of-a-kind. The large hood shields the face from rain and streetlights, with an integrated scarf for added warmth.
What’s truly remarkable is the precision with which each suit is made. The production process demands flexibility, as the materials are provided in varying forms each time, making every suit unique—honestly, with a capital “U.”
Sheltersuit production employees and atelier
People Helping People
What makes the foundation even more inspiring is its commitment to empowering volunteers, refugees, and formerly homeless individuals to produce the suits. They offer job opportunities, coaching, and integration support to help people build new futures. For instance, in the Enschede atelier, five Ukrainian women, who fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in the Netherlands, are now working on the production of the suits. You can truly feel the foundation’s genuine desire to make a difference in everything they do.
Bata Industrials is proud to support this initiative by providing safety shoes to the talented team at the Sheltersuit production facility in Enschede, ensuring their safety as they continue their life-changing work.
If you’re inspired by the work of Sheltersuit, we encourage you to learn more about the Sheltersuit Foundation. And if you’re in the world of PPM and have spare fabrics, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sheltersuit—they are always in need of fabric donations to help create these life-saving products.
Sheltersuit employees posing with their Bata Industrials donations
#PeopleHelpingPeople #Upcycling #Recycling #BataIndustrials