Rags2Riches: A Social Enterprise Transforming Lives Through Sustainable Fashion, Schemes and Mind Maps of Environmental Engineering

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TRANSFORMING LIVES, ONE STITCH AT A TIME

RAGS2RICHES

THE INSPIRING STORY OF

REESE FERNANDEZ RUIZ

AND HER SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

HOW IT STARTED? PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER OF RAGS2RICHES I am a mom, wife, social entrepreneur, artist, and proponent of design for social change. The theme of my life has always been about "opening doors" or providing opportunities. I have realised from a very early age that any kind of injustice or oppression deeply disturbs me. Instead of allowing this disturbance to make me feel helpless or angry, I decided (and still decide, every single day) to use it to guide my life and decisions in order to, in my own little ways, create opportunities for others. I believe that oppression can be countered by opportunities. In 2007, Reese Fernandez Ruiz started Rags2Riches with the purpose of establishing an eco-friendly fashion label that would uplift the disadvantaged sectors of the Philippines. She saw motivation in the classic Filipino craftsmanship of weaving and the sheer amount of waste resources in the nation. Along with a small group of artisans, she began gathering scraps of fabrics and making them into exquisite, handcrafted items. She found Rags2Riches after seeing women in Payatas receive little profit for rugs they crafted from cloth and scrap foraged from the Quezon City dump site, due to middlemen controlling their supplies and rug sales. Our story begins in a literal garbage site. To be specific, in Payatas, a community with one of the largest dump sites in the Philippines. Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, R2R’s President and Co-founder, was visiting Payatas and connected with women in the area. Many of the women were mothers, struggling to feed their families. They’d scour the dumpsites for fabric scraps to weave into simple foot rugs (basahan, in Filipino) and sell on the streets. on the women’s desperation, middlemen began sourcing fabric scraps from garment factories and selling them to the women at quadruple the price. Despite their raw talent and work ethic, many of the Payatas weavers were living hand to mouth, struggling to get by. Reese saw an opportunity, not only to create income for the women, but to show the world how talented they are. R2R cut out the middlemen and began connecting the women directly to the garment factories. But we didn’t stop there. We began partnering with local designers to create high fashion pieces from the women’s weaves. The women no longer had to sell rags in the street. They were now creating wearable art that showcased their talent, craftsmanship, and potential. This not only meant higher wages. It meant a deeper sense of pride, self-worth, and empowerment. We still work with many of those women in Payatas, but we’ve also come a long way since 2007. To date, we’ve trained over 1000 community artisans in nine communities across Metro Manila, upcycled thousands of kilograms of textile waste, and we continue to re-invest in communities through our impact programs. Today, Rags2Riches products are acclaimed worldwide and have been featured in many online platforms including Vogue, CNN, The Guardian, and Anthropologie. REESE FERNANDEZ-RUIZ

Rags2Riches offers a diverse range of products,and it’s all

made from upcycled materials and crafted by hand by skilled

artisans. Some of Their most popular products include:

Their home accessories range from decorative items to functional pieces. And These items are perfect for adding a touch of Filipino craftsmanship to any home. RAGS2RICHES PRODUCTS: THEY ALSO PRODUCES CLOTHING ITEMS LIKE TOPS, PANTS, AND ALSO DRESSES. THESE PIECES OFTEN FEATURE UNIQUE, PATTERNS, VIBRANT COLORS, AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS. From clutches to totes, their bags are crafted from upcycled fabrics and also indigenous materials. Popular styles include the Embroidered Pyramid Clutch, Vinia Hardin Fanny Pack, Puso Hardin, and the Puso Pyramid Handbag. Bags

CLOTHES

HOME ACCESSORIES

ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS " F A S H I O N I S N O T J U S T A B O U T S T Y L E , I T H A S T O B E A B O U T S U B S T A N C E A N D S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y. " “ Y O U G E T T H E M O S T F R O M C H A L L E N G E S N O T O N L Y W H E N Y O U E X P E C T T H E M , B U T W H E N Y O U L E A R N T O G R O W B E T T E R F R O M T H E M. ” “ W E C A N A L L D O S O M E T H I N G O N A S M A L L S C A L E. W E M U S T N O T B E C O M E D I S C O U R A G E D. D O I N G S O M E T H I N G O N A S M A L L S C A L E I S B E T T E R T H A N N O T D O I N G A N Y T H I N G A T A L L. ”

Establishing a business is an exciting but difficult

process that need for serious preparation and

effort. Solving an actual problem or filling an

unmet market need is crucial for success. Your

business concept should solve a real problem and

offer value. Testing your product or service on a

smaller scope before growing is an additional vital

phase in starting small and growing up gradually.

This enables you to take criticism to heart and

modify as needed. Another important aspect is

conducting research to understand your industry;

knowing your customers and rivals enables you to

modify your products to suit their demands.

Additionally, be ready for obstacles and

disappointments along the way. Being an

entrepreneur is a journey that calls for

perseverance, flexibility, and resilience. Don't let

failure discourage you; instead, take it as a

chance to improve. Remain dedicated to your

goal, remain open to criticism, and never stop

developing your business's operations. Although

success usually takes time, you can accomplish

the goals you set if you are determined and have

the proper mentality.

• REESE FERNANDEZ-RUIZ, PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER OF RAGS2RICHES

MEMBERS:

ARMERO, JIE-ANN DE MILO, PRINCESS ANGELA PABON, KHARL SIDJAY