LATAM Airlines changes its staff uniforms yearly, despite the fabric still being in a good state. To curb the waste produced, LATAM connected with NGO Kani and artisan association SISAN to transform their uniforms into new products that preserve Pachacamac culture. 

The uniforms are brought to 24 women artisans at SISAN who dismantle them (taking both the fabric and lining), wash, iron, screen print and finally embroider the textile, going through a quality check before the assembly. The resulting products are sold both in the Pachacamac Museum and in the LATAM miles redemption catalogue. SISAN artisans are proudly the first artisans to be part of this catalogue which, to date, only included large manufacturers. This platform disseminates Pachacamac iconography to a far wider audience. 

By the third year of this project, 8.000 uniforms were upcycled into 13.000 products, avoiding 26 tons of CO2 emissions. The annual turnover of uniforms provides a steady input for the association to continue this work. With the added benefit of relieving them of material costs, Segundo Vuelo has increased SISAN members’ income by 72%, considerable economic support through gratifying work. 

LATAM Airlines hopes to expand the project to other parts of Peru and other countries in the region. 

Photo: Casey Chae © Unsplash