Through his initiative, Visenleer, Moemen is giving a second life to discarded plastic and fish waste while creating jobs for families impacted by climate change and the decline of Egypt’s fishing industry.
“Growing up here, the sea was everything — our playground, our livelihood, our identity,” he told Ahram Online. “But in the past decade, we’ve watched it become a site of loss.”
Over 25,000 Egyptian fishermen have been displaced in recent years due to overfishing, pollution, and regulatory failures. Moemen, who trained in architecture and environmental design, wanted to offer a solution rooted in local knowledge and systemic thinking.
The result was Visenleer, a project merging sustainable material science with circular economy practices. The startup uses zero-carbon methods to produce textiles from mismanaged plastic, abandoned fishing nets, and discarded fish skins.
“I was trained to think in systems,” he said. “Architecture taught me to connect form, function, and environmental responsibility. This project is personal — it’s about reclaiming a stolen future.”
Visenleer’s process begins with collecting marine waste, which is then mechanically recycled using solar-powered equipment.
Plastic is shredded and spun into fibre without any chemicals. At the same time, fish skins — naturally rich in collagen — are tanned into biodegradable leather using plant-based agents such as mimosa and tree bark. No toxic chromium or synthetic dyes are involved.
“This is biocircular innovation,” Moemen said. “We design from nature, with nature, for nature.”
The final textiles are breathable, durable, and fully biodegradable, using natural dyes derived from agricultural waste. Every step of production is low-energy, water-efficient, and emissions-free. Visenleer has partnered with research labs in Cairo and Alexandria to conduct life cycle assessments and test materials for durability, UV resistance, and biodegradability to support their environmental claims.
Community input has also shaped the project.
“We co-developed prototypes with local artisans and fashion designers,” Moemen said. “We needed to know not just if the materials worked — but if people connected with them.”
The result: high-performing textiles that meet global sustainability standards and reflect the region's cultural and aesthetic values.
So far, Visenleer has trained over 100 young people and women, supported more than 40 families with consistent income, and helped shift the narrative around coastal resilience.
Former fishermen now lead marine waste collection and sorting efforts, while women — previously excluded from the fishing economy — run natural dye workshops. Local youth are also learning heritage textile techniques.
“Our community is not just the labour force. They are co-founders, co-designers, and co-dreamers,” Moemen said.
Instead of building a single factory, Visenleer is expanding through “micro-factories” — decentralized, solar-powered hubs tailored to the needs of coastal communities. “These localised units reduce emissions, create jobs, and keep value within the community,” he said. Digital tools help track emissions, optimise logistics, and ensure traceability throughout production.
Moemen’s work recently earned him a spot in the Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future programme, which comes with a grant and mentorship from global industry leaders. “This recognition has opened doors — to global platforms, new partners, and advanced research opportunities,” he said.
Visenleer's next step is expansion into Italy, a country with deep ties to fashion and fishing. Moemen hopes to create a “loop” of Mediterranean collaboration rooted in sustainability between Egypt and Italy.
But the path has not been easy. Moemen says local scepticism, limited infrastructure, and community trauma were among the most significant challenges.
“People here have faced so many broken promises. It took time, trust, and transparency to build something real,” he said. “The hardest part was not technical — it was emotional. Rebuilding dignity and belief in the future.”
“We do not want to just make green products,” Moemen added. “We want to make products that are beautiful, responsible, and rooted in justice.”
As the tides shift in Port Said, Moemen’s work shows what’s possible when innovation is paired with empathy — and when waste becomes not an end but a beginning.
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