New Sustainable Fashion Brand Manalma Launches to Promote Social Integration in Canary Islands

The Canary Islands’ textile industry is set for a change with the launch of Manalma, a new sustainable fashion brand. Born from a partnership between the Fernando Estévez School of Art and Superior Design and the El Buen Samaritano Canary Foundation, the project is more than just a business; it is a model for social integration and the circular economy, designed to provide job opportunities for migrants through professional sewing training.

Supported by the Directorate General for Vocational Training, the initiative aims to give students real-world market experience while providing the foundation with the tools to improve its production. Graphic design students created the brand’s identity, choosing a name that reflects the connection between manual labor and the human experience, with a visual style focused on warmth and accessibility.

Manalma’s unique approach centers on upcycling. Fashion and styling students take donated, pre-owned clothing and transform it into modern, wearable designs. This process reduces environmental waste and supports the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The project involves students from various disciplines: interior design students created a hybrid workshop and retail space, while software development students built the brand's online store.

The project is expected to open its physical doors between late this year and early next, pending the administrative regularization of the workshop’s staff. Beyond its local impact, Manalma has international goals; profits will fund the Baobab Hotel School Home in Senegal. By combining artistic creation with social responsibility, the brand aims to prove that sustainability and inclusion can go hand-in-hand.