Anna Fiscal, the ethical and inclusive revolution of her “Quid Project”

This article on Anna Fiscalo is part of the special reportage with some virtuous examples of young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, published in the number 28/29 of Vanity Fair, on newsstands until July 15th.

Born in 1988, Veronese, clear gaze and lucid vision: Anna Fiscale is a social entrepreneur, the architect of a tenacious revolution, which has taken shape with Quid projectthe reality he founded (with the financial support of 15,000 euros of the San Zeno Foundation) in 2013 to transform the fashion industry into a redemption laboratory, sustainability and inclusion. Graduated in Economics at Bocconi, with a Master in International Affairs in Sciences Po di Paris, Anna Fiscale has started her career in the hot areas of international cooperation – from India to Haiti, up to Brussels – carrying on humanitarian and development projects. But it is with the return to Italy that his professional life has a turning point, when he decides to create a company that can give a real job to those who, in his existence, have seen mainly closed doors. It is born like this Project Quid: a social enterprise where the waste fabrics of the luxury industry return to new life thanks to the wise hands of women with difficult past – victims of violence, former prisoners, people with disabilities or stories marked by marginalization. An ethical tailoring, made in Italy, which today has over 160 employees, of whom 70% women with fragility behind them. Numbers that tell an activity that has been able to climb without distorting: 2,200 kilometers of recovered fabrics, 100 brands partner in Italy and abroad, ten single -brand stores, an expanding online shop and a turnover that has reached 7 million euros. Quid project It is thus a hybrid model, between business and mission, which shows how competitive can be without renouncing the soul and is not surprising that his vision has received numerous national and international awards: from European Prize for Female Entrepreneurship and Social Inclusion al Women for Results Awardup to the prestigious European Civil Society Prize European. In 2020 the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella conferred the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

The interview with Anna Fiscale

When did you start? What funds were they needed to leave?
«The idea that gave birth to Quid project was born towards the end of 2012, when, together with
A team of boys, we imagined what would become our business
social. At the beginning we established ourselves as an association: we wanted to experiment and test
On the field the sustainability of our model. Quid was officially born in April 2013.
Initially to start the initiative we turned to the foundations, finding in the Foundation
San Zeno our first partner: thanks to their initial support of 15,000 euros, we have
I could take the first steps and start our project. Since then, with determination
And with an increasingly clear vision, we built a social enterprise composed today
from over 160 people with the ambition to become the first ethical partner for companies
national and international “.

What exactly do you do with Quid Project?
«Quid is a social enterprise of ethical and sustainable fashion, born to give new life to the fabrics e
to people. We draw and produce Ethically Made in Italy garments and accessories, using high quality textile surpluses from the districts of Italian luxury and fashion. Through this process, we generate concrete opportunities for inclusive use for people in fragility situations, with particular attention to women. 65% of our collaborators and collaborators have stories of redemption behind them: paths marked by violence, addictions, disabilities or detention. We are ethical partners of over 100 companies, including Ikea, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana, L’Oréal, Ey Italia and Malìparmi. Collaborations that demonstrate how sustainability, ethics and quality can walk together to build a fairer and more inclusive future ».

What formation do you have?
«When I was born I was 25 years old. My academic path has its roots
In the economic field, with a three -year degree in Economics and Commerce at the University of Verona. Following, I lived international training experiences that have deeply influenced my vision: an Erasmus in London, an experience in an NGO in India engaged on the themes of the female empowerment, and then a path of study between Milan, to Bocconi, and Paris, to Sciences Po, where I achieved a Master in Political Science. From the start, I tried to combine two great passions: social commitment and fashion. My dream was to build, precisely in my territory, a project that could generate tangible social impact, inspired by the principles of the circular economy “.

How is the structure of Quid project? How many people work with her?
“Quid project It is a type B social cooperative, our business model is based
on the belief that transforming the limits of the world and society into starting points
Innovative production models are born: our motto is precisely “Limits Are Starting
Points “. Quid project has the aim of making the labor market accessible to those who are
more at risk of exclusion and discrimination in Italy, mainly women – we believe
In fact, the work is more a job, but that it is a means of growing, integrating and socializing and transforming one’s limits into starting points. Today, we count over 160 collaborators, of which 75% are women. About 65% of our employees have gone through social redemption paths or fragility experiences, such as violence, dependencies, disabilities or detention. Our collaborators come from 23 different nationalities. We also operate in two workshops inside the Montorio Veronese district house, where 14 collaborators and collaborators work ».

What turnover does today?
«We closed 2024 with a turnover of around 7 million euros. An important milestone,
achieved thanks to the trust of customers, partners and collaborators who share a
Ethical vision of the company “.

What were the greatest difficulties in the path from 2013 to today?
«The difficulties were not lacking, especially in the early years. One of the biggest initial challenges
It was conquering credibility. We were young, motivated, but with little experience
entrepreneurial behind. For many, our project seemed too idealistic, too much
fragile. Last year, after 11 years of activity with our brand Quid projectwe took
an important decision: to devote themselves mainly to collaborations with companies, in
Quality of the main ethical supplier of work clothing, merchandising and accessories. Even today, in proposing our model to large companies, we must often overcome cultural and organizational barriers. However, the strength of a shared vision of change, which has its roots in common values ​​and principles, allows solid and virtuous partnerships. Together, we build networks and supply chains in which social innovation and sustainability become strategic levers for growth, not obstacles. Our collaborations with important brands show that inclusion, quality and ethics can coexist and generate value for all the actors involved ».

What do you see for the future?
«Our gaze is aimed at 2030 with a clear goal: a high production district
social impact, capable of going beyond the fashion sector. We dream of a collaborative ecosystem, in which enlightened companies, public bodies and reality of the third sector work together to generate inclusive and sustainable employment. We want to be a point of reference for Upcycling and Ethical production, developing skills in line with the new European regulations on eco-design. We believe that the future is built by combining the forces between profit and non -profit, amplifying the positive impact and generating shared value, promoting a new way of doing business that puts people at the center “.