Our Values
THE SEP STORY
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to bring thousands of refugees above the poverty line, empowered by their skills and talent. Women become change-makers and have a positive impact on their community and the world.
In doing so, SEP change the perception of refugees worldwide.
WHO WE ARE
SEP stands for Social Enterprise Project. We are a luxury fashion & lifestyle business with a social impact focus. SEP was the first Jordanian private company to set up in the Jerash “Gaza” Camp in Jordan in 2013. We work with over 600 embroidery Artists, who happen to be refugees. What makes us different is that we work with the camp residents as Artists and colleagues, rather than recipients of aid. We have the privileged opportunity to create sustainable paths to economic independence for hundreds of women & their families. In 2020, SEP became a Certified B Corporation.
WHAT WE DO: HAND-EMBROIDERY
Hand Embroidery is our core business: a time-honoured, therapeutical, high precision craftsmanship, which cannot be displaced by machines.
It represents the Artists' heritage, which we set out to protect, treasure and celebrate. We do this through fusion of Italian style with the best of the Middle Eastern Craftsmanship.
Every stitch tells a story: each Artist can quickly point out her work and pours her positive energy and all her emotions onto the canvas during each creation. Learn more about our techniques HERE.
THE SEP BOUTIQUES
At SEP we understand that consumers are more conscious than ever about making ethical purchases. When you buy a SEP creation, you make a concrete change in the lives of our craftswomen, providing them not only with self sufficiency but also a sense of pride, self esteem & dignity. We believe in creating & fostering Mutual Happiness.
Our Geneva, Berlin, Milan and Amman stores carry an array of luxury fashion & household accessories - they’re all truly one of a kind, often not available online. Come on in, see it for yourself, be inspired, create change. We’d love to see you!
OUR IMPACT
OUR TEAM
ROBERTA VENTURA
founder/ceo
Roberta is based in Geneva; she brings to the table a twenty-year career in Investment Banking and Asset Management and a Degree with Hons in Business Administration at Bocconi University.
roberta@sepjordan.com
STEFANO DAMBROSIO
cfo/business development
Economist from Bocconi University and the London School of Economics. Stefano's multi-year experience is precious to ensure constant cost-control and accurate planning at SEP.
stefano@sepjordan.com
NAWAL ARADEH
project manager
Nawal is a trained teacher. She lives in Jerash ''Gaza'' Camp, where she has supervised an array of women handicraft work before. She took SEP from a 20-ladies group to a team of 300.
nawal@sepjordan.com
ASMA SALEH
quality control manager
Asma is a talented embroiderer from Jerash ''Gaza'' Camp.
Asma's creativity, versatility and flexibility are key assets from the design phase to the quality control phase.
ABDELRAHEEM (ABED) A. ALI
operations coordinator
Abed is the enabler of the connection between the camp and the rest of the world. Against a complex and delicate backdrop, he troubleshoots and makes sure everything works smoothly.
abed@sepjordan.com
AHMAD MANSOUR
project manager
Ahmad works in the SEP House in Jerash camp and has a key role in ensuring that we never deliver late and that we always produce and deliver what is expected of us; he also empowers the Syrian artists, who live outside of the camp.
ahmad@sepjordan.com
WHAT WE STAND FOR
SOCIAL-IMPACT MINDED
SEP ARTISTS ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO
SEP artists are unique: Our skilled craftswomen are uniquely talented. Their skills are respected and appreciated by the world’s sophisticated consumer.
SEP artisans are the core of the SEP model: We work to ensure that the SEP artists are proud to be part of the SEP community. They are respected as individuals and each of them can express their personality in the creative process. Children are not involved in the production.
BUSINESS FOCUS
SO MORE PEOPLE BENEFIT
SEP artisans benefit: SEP producers earn above-market rates. The best producers earn performance-related bonuses at the end of the year. We take pride in ensuring that they benefit from the work both emotionally and financially. To ensure the bonuses are funded, we must make a profit.
Rigorous attention to detail: we aim for a superior level of quality and efficiency at all times, deadlines are respected and waste avoided.
CROSS-CULTURAL
SEP CULTURAL AWARENESS MAKES US UNIQUE
Respect for traditions and cultures: SEP is cross-culturally aware. The founder and most of the management team and consultants are Italian; the producers are refugees in the Middle East.
We all love elegant design: No matter our location or circumstance we all love beauty.
ECO-SUSTAINABLE
SO THE PLANET DOESN'T PAY THE PRICE
All of our embroidery is undertaken by hand. Even assembling is mostly hand-made, using minimal machinery.
We promote recycling and respect for the environment in the workplace.
We ask our fabrics suppliers to avoid use chemical coloring and we are always on the lookout for new fabrics based on recycled materials.
