Up-fuse is a fully-fledged Cairo-based cult brand and social enterprise created in celebration of You and this beautiful planet – Earth.

In 2013 Up-fuse started with Yara and Rania’s passion for material exploration and a need to reuse the disposed plastic waste in Egypt. The duo realized the capacity to go beyond making an environmental impact and the idea of designing and producing a local product that revolutionizes Egyptian handcrafts became very appealing.

With much sweat and support the abstract idea manifested into an environmentally-conscious social-enterprise that applies a slow-fashion model, reducing waste through ethical production and supporting local artisans and women who endure harsher conditions.

THE MATERIAL

Our material is sustainable, unique and we LOVE it! After the raw material is collected, it undergoes a 3-step sanitization process using specific detergents and a special washing machine adopted by upfuse especially for this purpose.

The materials are then hung to dry in the Egyptian bacteria-killing sun as a further precautionary and environmentally respectful step.

With the help of our keen, artisan ladies at Roh Al Shabab NGO, the raw materials are processed into our upfuse fabric sheets by compression through yet another machinery refined by our brand.

01 Recycling

Upfuse has upcycled over 250,000 plastic bags since it initiated. The process begins with collecting disposed plastic bags and plastics production waste through sustainable collaborations between the brand and Cairo Garbage City, plastic production factories and plastic bag donations from the wonderful people who believe in a greener earth.

02 Manshiyat Nasser Landfill

Known as Cairo Garbage City and is the world’s largest garbage village that is home to over 60,000 Zaballeen – garbage-collectors. They are entrepreneurial garbage workers who have achieved the most efficient waste disposal system worldwide, recycling over 80% of their daily collected garbage which accounts to 3000 – 4000 tons daily, while developed cities and multinational waste disposal corporations recycle only 20 – 30 percent of what they collect, leaving the rest to rot in giant landfills.

Undoubtedly the Zaballeen’s industrious and innovative recycling practices are gaining international and national interest as well upfuse’s collaboration and support.

Upfuse has managed to provide over 50 job opportunities by working with 3 NGOs and some talented, yet previously unappreciated, Egyptian hand-craft artisans.

ROH AL SHABAB NGO

A prominent NGO based in Manshiyat Nasser, supporting its people through co-education and side jobs. Upfuse granted some of the enrolled women a chance to earn a stable income through flexible working schedules that fit and acknowledge their responsibilities as hardworking wives and mothers. The ladies surprised us by their enthusiasm and artistic touches that are an upfuse signature. Roh Al Shabab is our hub for collecting, upcycling and storing, both, our raw and processed materials.
NIL EL FORAT NGO

A UNCH organization that supports female refugees from Syria, Ethiopia and Sudan to earn a stable income in Egypt. These women are experts in sewing and have an eye for creating beautiful things. They are responsible for the production of some of our product lines and they’re our go to for the intricate work that goes into our collaborations and special projects.
AL NOOR WAL AMAL NGO

One of the respectable NGOs in Egypt that employ women of different challenging circumstances. Upfuse employs the visually impaired women giving them non-burdening tasks that are pivotal for the facilitation of the production process.
IN-HOUSE ARTISANS

Full-time, expert local artisans and technicians who help develop, prototype and produce our products. Their input made our vision a possibility. Together with these genius artisans we managed to define our production techniques and create unique products by providing them with the tools, the space and the opportunity they needed to revolutionize their skill at Egyptian handcrafts and elevate their production quality.

These are the people we cherish,
The ones who made our dream a possibility.

WHO THEY ARE,
WHAT THEY DO!

FOUNDERS

Yara, Rania and partner Lama are the brand’s driving force. Their vision, passion, determination, entrepreneurial minds and design skills gave birth to this world of upfuse and their efforts sustain the brand’s growth. Whether it’s designing, overlooking production, managing the brand and its collaborations with the NGOs or catering for the needs of their teams, they do it whole-heartedly!
Production

Yara, Rania and partner Lama are the brand’s driving force. Their vision, passion, determination, entrepreneurial minds and design skills gave birth to this world of upfuse and their efforts sustain the brand’s growth. Whether it’s designing, overlooking production, managing the brand and its collaborations with the NGOs or catering for the needs of their teams, they do it whole-heartedly!
Communication

Yara, Rania and partner Lama are the brand’s driving force. Their vision, passion, determination, entrepreneurial minds and design skills gave birth to this world of upfuse and their efforts sustain the brand’s growth. Whether it’s designing, overlooking production, managing the brand and its collaborations with the NGOs or catering for the needs of their teams, they do it whole-heartedly!
You Up-fusers

Yara, Rania and partner Lama are the brand’s driving force. Their vision, passion, determination, entrepreneurial minds and design skills gave birth to this world of upfuse and their efforts sustain the brand’s growth. Whether it’s designing, overlooking production, managing the brand and its collaborations with the NGOs or catering for the needs of their teams, they do it whole-heartedly!

how can you help us

We believe that our actions and yours make a big difference

3

NGOs Supported
50+

Job Opportunities
260k

Plastic Bags Recycled

free delivery for orders above 1080 EGP

HOW IT HAPPENED

BRAND STORY

THE MATERIAL

HOW WE OPERATE