Using sustainable craftsmanship to support unemployed women

Gunilla Hjelm

Gunilla has been a weaver since childhood and has also worked in Sweden and internationally to help women become become financially independent. She was a full-time politician between 2008 and 2016 but when a close friend was diagnosed with a terminal illness, Gunilla left politics to spend more time with her friend. In the discussions that followed, the idea of Rag2Rug was born.

Gunilla takes part in Care of Business Impact – our accelerator for impact entrepreneurs that we’re running together with Impact Invest.

Rag2Rug

Rag2Rug gives life to discarded textiles by turning them into rugs through craftsmanship and weaving traditions. The company collaborates with the local Employment Agency to train and employ foreign-born women who need help to enter the job market in Sweden.