Jean-Guy is the founder of the upcycled bag, accessory and clothing brand [ METAMORPHOSE ]
Year founded: 2018
Design and office location: France 🇫🇷
Raw material sourcing location: Throughout France 🇫🇷
Manufacturing and production location: Cannes, Les Arcs sur Argens, Marseille, Manosque, Montpellier, Saint-Affrique, Lempdes, Alençon, Marolles-en-Brie, Paris, Francheville (France) 🇫🇷
Founder profile
Jean-Guy Henckel was born in France in Franche-Comté, into a working-class family that valued discipline and hard work. After studying in Besançon, he worked as an educator in a shelter, where he was saddened to see people inactive, wandering aimlessly all day. This is how the idea of providing work to people facing social difficulties took root in him. As a sustainable solution, he chose organic market gardening. In 1991, he created the first Jardin de Cocagne, a concept combining short distribution circuits to customers who are also members of the association, job-based integration for people in precarious situations, and finally, organic farming. Soon, these gardens attracted the interest of many people throughout France. To promote their development, the Réseau Cocagne was formed in 1999. Still expanding, the Network now has nearly 130 gardens. In 2015, around 4,500 people had been employed there for a maximum of two years. Nearly half of them went on to secure a job or vocational training. Every week, 25,000 member families receive their basket of organic vegetables. In 2017, Jean-Guy Henckel brought together several managers of integration workshops specializing in upcycling. Together, they created the Réseau Métamorphose to facilitate cooperation between the workshops and meet larger markets. The association aims to promote the integration of people far from employment by using upcycling. Today, the Network has 13 workshops across France.
About the brand
Métamorphose imagines and creates unique bags, accessories and clothing from salvaged materials such as advertising banners, inner tubes, jute sacks, workwear and boat sails. These materials, collected from local authorities, businesses and individuals, find a second life in our creations. Thus, what was once considered waste becomes a valuable resource. The products are not just eco-friendly. Each piece is made in integration workshops in France, where people far from employment find an opportunity to re-enter the workforce. Thanks to this work, they regain confidence in themselves and steadily progress on their integration journey. The creations therefore have a dual impact: they are both socially responsible and environmentally friendly. By choosing Métamorphose, you support sustainable and solidarity-based fashion.
The eco-responsible impact
The brand, Métamorphose, stands out for its strong commitment to responsibility, ethics and sustainability, which it incorporates into every stage of its creation and production process. Responsibility and Sustainability: They exclusively use salvaged materials such as advertising banners, inner tubes, jute sacks, workwear and boat sails. These materials, which they collect from local authorities, businesses and individuals, are diverted from the waste stream and transformed into unique and durable products. By giving these materials a second life, they reduce their environmental impact and promote a circular economy.
Ethics and Social Impact: Each piece in the collection is made in integration workshops in France. These workshops offer a valuable opportunity for people far from employment to find their place in the working world. Through this process, these individuals regain confidence in themselves and acquire new professional skills, thus promoting their lasting reintegration into society. The production model therefore promotes not only sustainable fashion, but also a positive social impact by supporting inclusion and professional reintegration.
Commitments and Values: Métamorphose is committed to producing items that are not only eco-friendly, but also ethically made. Every Métamorphose product reflects a commitment to responsible fashion that respects both the environment and the individuals involved in the production process. The workshops belonging to the Réseau Métamorphose are committed to respecting their Charter, which highlights their commitments and shared values. By choosing their products, customers actively support sustainable and solidarity-based fashion, thus contributing to a more environmentally friendly and equitable future for all.
The big pluses
They are ESUS certified (Solidarity Enterprise of Social Utility). This is a label reserved for businesses in the social and solidarity economy that combine social objectives with economic viability.
The brand's values
🔁 Upcycling ↓
Upcycling is at the heart of their model. Every product made comes from salvaged materials. By avoiding the production of new materials, they considerably reduce the environmental impact of their creations while giving a valuable second life to the materials used. Every year, they revalue more than 8 tons of materials.
🇫🇷 Made in France ↓
The products are made exclusively in France in human-scale workshops.
🚺 Women Empowerment (Women only) ↓
The integration offer for women is limited, while the need for support in finding employment is greater than for men. They are convinced that by allowing women to regain confidence in themselves and build their professional project, they will find their way back to employment more smoothly. Today, 70% of the workshop employees are women.
👐🏽 Social and solidarity impact ↓
The workshop employees are people far from employment (recipients of minimum social benefits, low qualification level, single parent, living with a disability...). They benefit from a part-time employment contract within the workshops. During their working hours, they have access to personalized support, training, and immersion time to develop and implement their professional project. Every year, the workshops support nearly 300 people far from employment.
👤 Know-How ↓
Métamorphose products are handmade in integration workshops in France.
💎 Limited edition ↓
The products are made with upcycled materials, so each one is unique.
The products are made without materials of animal origin.
The products are made exclusively in France in human-scale workshops.
[ Métamorphose offers unique bags, accessories and clothing made from salvaged materials, carefully crafted in integration workshops in France. ]
