Introducing the first cohort of Everyone's Business programme!
Meet the 11 social enterprises contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable, and hopeful Sweden.
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70%
Supports women artisans with flexible income-generating opportunities through sewing, crafting and the production of custom products for businesses and communities.
Many talented women artisans have valuable sewing, crafting, and production skills, but limited access to stable market opportunities.
30%
Location
Malaysia
Programme
Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia
in partnership with Biji-Biji Initiative
Malaysia
Programme
Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia
in partnership with Biji-Biji Initiative
For mothers and caregivers from vulnerable communities, it can be hard to find flexible ways to earn income, even though they have the skills and experience needed for commercial work. Meanwhile, many textile materials like denim and industrial workwear are thrown away even though they are still usable.
Sagemaker Asia addresses these challenges by connecting women artisans with commercial opportunities through a community-based production approach. The social enterprise operates Rumah Sage, a production house in Ampang that creates custom merchandise, educational products, corporate gifts and upcycled items for businesses, institutions and families.
Sagemaker Asia works with corporate clients like PETRONAS, Pos Malaysia, Petrosains, and KTMB, bringing together creative skills and market needs. Artisans, called “Sagemakers”, can pick projects that match their schedules and abilities, working in areas such as sewing, assembly, quality control, and packaging. Experienced artisans also help newer members learn, supporting skill growth and building confidence.
Since its launch, the enterprise has worked with over 70 artisans and shown that community-based production has potential to work on a large scale, making 3,000 products in just three weeks. It also uses circular practices. For example, one denim upcycling campaign turned more than 80 pairs of old jeans into school bags, and other projects have reused industrial coveralls to make useful products.
The impact touches many groups. Women artisans get opportunities to earn income and build skills. Businesses receive high-quality custom products that support a social cause. Communities benefit from local economic activity, and the environment gains from reusing textiles that would otherwise be thrown away. Some projects have shown a social return-on-investment ratio of 1:6.
Sagemaker Asia is looking to grow its network of artisans and set up a decentralised model of community-based micro-factories. By making operations more consistent and improving production systems, the organisation hopes to offer more opportunities to artisans throughout Malaysia while keeping its focus on the community.
Programme support
Through the programme, we’ll support Sagemaker Asia in strengthening its scaling strategy, production systems and operational processes. The organisation will further develop its branding, partnership and retail readiness capabilities while building stronger approaches to impact measurement. The programme will also support the team in refining a scalable micro-factory model that can expand economic participation opportunities for women artisans in more communities.
Sagemaker Asia addresses these challenges by connecting women artisans with commercial opportunities through a community-based production approach. The social enterprise operates Rumah Sage, a production house in Ampang that creates custom merchandise, educational products, corporate gifts and upcycled items for businesses, institutions and families.
Sagemaker Asia works with corporate clients like PETRONAS, Pos Malaysia, Petrosains, and KTMB, bringing together creative skills and market needs. Artisans, called “Sagemakers”, can pick projects that match their schedules and abilities, working in areas such as sewing, assembly, quality control, and packaging. Experienced artisans also help newer members learn, supporting skill growth and building confidence.
Since its launch, the enterprise has worked with over 70 artisans and shown that community-based production has potential to work on a large scale, making 3,000 products in just three weeks. It also uses circular practices. For example, one denim upcycling campaign turned more than 80 pairs of old jeans into school bags, and other projects have reused industrial coveralls to make useful products.
The impact touches many groups. Women artisans get opportunities to earn income and build skills. Businesses receive high-quality custom products that support a social cause. Communities benefit from local economic activity, and the environment gains from reusing textiles that would otherwise be thrown away. Some projects have shown a social return-on-investment ratio of 1:6.
Sagemaker Asia is looking to grow its network of artisans and set up a decentralised model of community-based micro-factories. By making operations more consistent and improving production systems, the organisation hopes to offer more opportunities to artisans throughout Malaysia while keeping its focus on the community.
Programme support
Through the programme, we’ll support Sagemaker Asia in strengthening its scaling strategy, production systems and operational processes. The organisation will further develop its branding, partnership and retail readiness capabilities while building stronger approaches to impact measurement. The programme will also support the team in refining a scalable micro-factory model that can expand economic participation opportunities for women artisans in more communities.