Operation Upcycle, the Ramco-led initiative transforming surplus military textiles into sustainable fashion and retail products, has announced Help for Heroes as its official charity partner as the programme moves into its next phase of national development.
Operation Upcycle was established following Ramco’s appointment to manage and resell surplus Ministry of Defence textiles. Built around sustainability, reuse and social value, the initiative diverts military garments and fabrics from waste and reimagines them through creative redesign, academic collaboration and socially responsible production.
The project is already active with the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art (WSA), where fashion students have completed the first stage of a remake design programme using authentic surplus military garments. Selected students are now progressing into a live development phase focused on scalable, production-ready designs.
The appointment of Help for Heroes significantly strengthens the programme’s social reach and veteran impact. One of the UK’s most recognised Armed Forces charities, Help for Heroes brings national credibility, an established supporter base, and a strong network across the veteran community. The charity will support ambassador engagement, storytelling, and veteran participation opportunities linked to production, promotion and retail activation.
Neil Sanderson, Managing Director at Ramco, said:
“Operation Upcycle was created to prove that surplus materials can create new value — commercially, environmentally and socially. Bringing Help for Heroes into the partnership is a major step forward. Their experience, reach and deep understanding of the Armed Forces community will help us ensure this initiative delivers genuine, lasting impact for veterans, while also scaling the programme nationally. We’re incredibly proud to have them alongside us as we move into the next phase.”
Sharon Williams, Programme Leader at Winchester School of Art, added:
“Operation Upcycle gives our students a rare opportunity to work with authentic materials and a real social purpose. By connecting sustainability, design innovation and social impact in a live project environment, students gain both creative and commercial insight. The involvement of Ramco and Help for Heroes dds further meaning and real-world relevance to the work, and significantly broadens the potential impact of what they create.”
James Needham, Chief Executive at Help for Heroes, said:
“For many veterans, the uniform represents pride, identity and belonging, and when service ends, that can be difficult to replace. This initiative honours that history while transforming surplus military textiles into pieces that carry real story and meaning. It brings veterans and students together to champion sustainability and ensure the experience of the Armed Forces community is seen and heard by new audiences.
Through the combined partnership, Operation Upcycle will continue to build a circular model linking surplus recovery, creative education, veteran engagement and responsible retail, with future plans including capsule collections and high street retail collaboration.
Learn more: www.operationupcycle.co.uk
Or contact us here:
Harriet Sanderson, Project Manager, Ramco
harrietsanderson@operationupcycle.co.uk, +44 (0)1754 882211