Sophie Remy, a Solvay Brussels School graduate, founded R-Use Fabrik, a Brussels-based nonprofit committed to circular and social economy. Together with her team and over a hundred volunteers, she gives new life to textile waste through workshops, a haberdashery, and repair services. Her mission: combine environmental impact, social inclusion, and human connection.



Where from?

I’m Sophie Remy, 48 years old. I have three children, and I graduated from Solvay Brussels School in 2000 in Commercial engineer (at that time), with a major in Marketing. 

What led you to choose Solvay Brussels School? And how did Solvay's entrepreneurial environment influence your choices or open up new perspectives? 

At the end of high school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I decided to spend a year abroad : six months in the United States and six months in the Netherlands to improve my English and Dutch, and to take some time to reflect on my future and aspirations. Choosing the right field of study felt like a big decision, and I needed time. When I returned, I was determined to go to a good school that would open up as many opportunities as possible later on. I had a rather scientific profile (though not engineering), and I felt that management was a good option.  

Did you have an international experience through SBS-EM? If so, how did it impact your personal or professional journey? 

I did an Erasmus exchange in my fourth year in Singapore. I really enjoyed the teaching style, the business cases, and the pedagogy, which were very different from what I had known in Belgium. It definitely influenced my way of thinking. I came back enriched by a new culture and new knowledge, it was an incredible experience. 

Were there any courses or professors that particularly stood out to you during your studies? 

Looking back, I realise that almost all the courses have proven useful to me today. When you run an NGO or any kind of organisation, you need broad, multidisciplinary knowledge. You deal with administration, accounting, finance, HR, communication, you need to understand a bit of everything. 

How did you first enter the distribution sector, and what motivated you to stay in that field for 15 years? 

After two years working in consultancy at Deloitte Consulting, I realised I needed something more hands-on. I applied at Delfood/Delitraiteur and got the job. I joined the purchasing and marketing team. We were in charge of product selection, pricing, promotions, and merchandising. We analysed sales data and tried to understand what customers wanted and how they behaved. I found it fascinating. Later, when I joined Press Shop/Relay in 2008, I worked on developing new store concepts, which I found absolutely thrilling. 

What inspired you to create your own brand, Louis Le Sec? 

I have three children, two of whom are quite allergic to dust mites. I also had to deal with bedwetting issues. I wanted to offer parents a solution for both allergies and accidents, one that wouldn't feel like a punishment for children. Traditional bed protectors are often white, uncomfortable... So I developed a line of children’s bed linen under the brand Louis Le Sec: beautiful for the children, practical for the parents. The products were waterproof and allergen-proof, protecting the mattress without disturbing the child’s comfort. 

How did you transition from that first entrepreneurial experience to founding R-Use Fabrik? 

During the production of Louis Le Sec items, I had a lot of fabric scraps left over. Over the years, I tried to expand the range to use those scraps and avoid waste. When I decided to stop Louis Le Sec, I was going through a very eco-conscious phase, zero waste, organic, etc. I met people who inspired me to change my lifestyle and helped me realise how important it was to protect the planet and leave a better world for our children. I started taking sewing classes, I wanted to work with my hands. The idea for R-Use Fabrik came to me very quickly. I met Mathilde, my partner in the nonprofit, and together we developed the concept as it exists today. Everything happened naturally and quickly it just made sense. 

What societal challenges were you aiming to tackle with R-Use Fabrik? And how would you describe its mission today? 

R-Use Fabrik aims to give new value to textile waste through various activities. Our goal is to raise awareness of the environmental impact of the textile industry (the third most polluting industry worldwide). We do this through our second-hand haberdashery, sewing and embroidery classes, repair services, and our workshop specialised in reusing textile waste (old curtains, tablecloths, fabric scraps, advertising banners, workwear, etc.).  We operate in both the circular and social economy. R-Use Fabrik is a nonprofit. We welcome professional integration trainees and volunteers. We want to create social bonds and a caring ecosystem. 

Which values, social, ecological, or economic, guide your decisions as an entrepreneur? And what have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced? 

From the beginning, Mathilde and I chose to set up R-Use Fabrik as a nonprofit. We wanted to be active in both the circular and social economy, and we had no intention of enriching ourselves. Our goals were to reuse textile waste, raise awareness about the environmental impact of the textile industry, create jobs through our sewing workshop, and welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to foster social connections. We collect a huge amount of fabric (in all shapes and sizes), and sorting and storing it is a daily challenge. We moved to a new location two and a half years ago, and we're already running out of space again. Our team of about 30 volunteers helps us meet these challenges. We strive to remain financially balanced and independent from grants. We currently have 5 employees and work with freelance instructors. I’d say we have the equivalent of about 6 full-time positions. 
Our biggest challenge today is managing the schedules of the instructors, volunteers, and all the ongoing activities. 

What are your current ambitions or next steps for R-Use Fabrik? 

We have lots of projects. We’re thinking of opening a second retail location. We want to expand our sewing and repair workshop. We also aim to raise more awareness and increase the volume of textile we bring back into circulation. 

What advice would you give to a Solvay student or recent graduate who wants to launch a project with social impact? 

Human connection, purpose, and pride are things that stay with me every day in my professional life. I feel fulfilled by my work. I may not become rich financially, but I am rich in meaning and that is priceless. Of course, we all need to earn a living, but do we need to be billionaires? I don’t think so. My philosophy now is to create jobs. As soon as the nonprofit can afford it, we hire. We don’t raise our own salaries—we hire someone! We give someone the opportunity to make a living doing work they enjoy, in a positive environment.  It’s not always easy to get that message across. But my greatest pride today is having created employment. 

What are you most passionate about today? 

I love the challenge of finding new ways to give textile a second life. How can we make high-quality, appealing products from old clothes, old curtains… how can we upcycle them? That’s what excites me. 

Who has had the biggest influence on your career or personal journey? 

Many people. Over time, I’ve realised that when you’re open, willing to listen and engage in conversation, you grow. Exchanges with others are an endless source of ideas and inspiration. Many of the projects we’ve implemented at R-Use were born from interactions with clients, volunteers… That’s the power of human connection. 

So, where to now? 

I really want to continue developing the workshop—new techniques to upcycle textile waste, better ways to repair clothing faster and more efficiently. 
Updated on June 26, 2025