Vintage for a Cause

Vintage for a Cause is a Portuguese circular economy brand based in Porto, founded in 2012 by Helena Antónia Silva. It focuses on reusing textile waste through upcycling, creating exclusive original-design clothing and accessories from deadstock and discarded materials, while empowering unemployed women over 50 by giving them meaningful work in the upcycling process. The brand sells its products online and has built a reputation as an innovative case study in solidarity reuse and circular economy in Portugal. Since 2019, Vintage for a Cause has grown beyond its retail brand into a wider network of social inclusion and circularity programmes known as Clubes Circulares (Circular Clubs), active in multiple territories across Portugal. These clubs run creative sewing and textile reuse workshops for schools, municipalities, companies and local communities, involving children, employees and local partners in hands-on experiences that build practical skills around conscious resource use. Notable initiatives include the Clubes UP programme in the Douro region, co-financed by Fundação EDP's Energia Solidária programme, and workshops delivered in partnership with organisations such as Nestlé Portugal and TUI Care Foundation, supporting diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing. The project has built a community of hundreds of 'remakers' turning the Douro region more circular and inclusive, and was recognised as a winner in the 2nd edition of TUI Futureshapers Portugal for its work making tourism more sustainable through creative sewing experiences. Vintage for a Cause is supported by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and continues to combine commercial fashion upcycling with community-based social innovation programmes across Portugal.