MANILA, Philippines l RAGS 2 RICHES l Report

Summary

Rags to Riches is a for-profit social enterprise in the Philippines that transforms upcycled scrap cloth and indigenous materials into fashion and home accessories. Founded to address the exploitation of mothers in Payatas, a large garbage dump site, the company partners with top designers to create high-value products like bags and purses. By empowering local communities and artisans, Rags to Riches helps shift their focus from daily survival to long-term goals. The brand aims to become a global symbol of Filipino eco-ethical craftsmanship and sustainable business.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Rags to Riches is a for-profit social enterprise in the Philippines that creates fashion and home accessories from upcycled scrap cloth, organic, and indigenous materials.
• 👗 The products are designed by top Filipino designers and handcrafted by local artisans, adding significant value to the materials used.
• 🏚️ The company started after discovering that mothers in Payatas, a large garbage dump site in the Philippines, were making rugs from discarded scraps of cloth but were being exploited by middlemen who paid them only two cents per rug.
• 👜 To add value, Rags to Riches collaborated with renowned designers like Rajo Laurel, who transformed the upcycled materials into high-quality products such as bags, purses, and wine accessories.
• 🤝 Rags to Riches partners with communities in Metro Manila through NGOs and foundations, providing materials and opportunities for local artisans to create products.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 The partnership has positively impacted the artisans' lives, shifting their focus from daily survival to longer-term goals, such as saving for utilities and building homes.
• 🛍️ The company started by selling locally in bazaars and small shops and has grown to be available in 15 retail outlets in the Philippines, including five-star hotels and high-end boutiques.
• 🌍 Rags to Riches also participates in trunk shows in Europe, aiming to expand globally as a Filipino eco-ethical lifestyle brand.
• 🇵🇭 The brand aspires to be a global symbol of the Philippines' artisan craftsmanship, merging good business with community empowerment and environmental sustainability.
• 🌱 Rags to Riches seeks to inspire others by demonstrating that it is possible to create a successful business while making a positive impact on communities and the environment.

Q & A

What is Rags to Riches and where is it based?

Rags to Riches is a for-profit social and business enterprise based in the Philippines. They create fashion and home accessories using upcycled scrap cloth, organic materials, and indigenous materials.

What type of products does Rags to Riches create?

Rags to Riches creates fashion and home accessories, such as bags, purses, wine holders, and other items, from upcycled materials. These products are designed by top designers in the Philippines and hand-made by artisans.

How did Rags to Riches get started?

Rags to Riches started after seeing the injustices faced by mothers in Payatas, a garbage dump site in the Philippines. These mothers were making foot rugs from discarded cloth but were being exploited by middlemen and earning very little.

What was the problem faced by mothers in Payatas before Rags to Riches intervened?

The mothers in Payatas were making rugs from scraps of cloth but were only earning two cents per rug due to exploitation by middlemen. They could only make around eight rugs a day, resulting in very low income.

How did Rags to Riches solve the issue of low income for the mothers in Payatas?

Rags to Riches approached top designers like Rajo Laurel to create higher-value products such as bags and accessories from the same upcycled materials. This helped increase the value of the products and allowed the mothers to earn a fair wage.

Who is Rajo Laurel, and what is his role in Rags to Riches?

Rajo Laurel is a well-known designer in the Philippines. He played a key role in designing high-end bags, purses, and other accessories for Rags to Riches, using upcycled scrap cloth to help raise the value of the products.

What changes have occurred in the lives of the artisans working with Rags to Riches?

The artisans have shifted from day-to-day survival thinking to more long-term planning. They now think about how to finance their utilities or build a house for their families, showing a more stable and professional outlook.

How does Rags to Riches collaborate with communities in the Philippines?

Rags to Riches partners with existing communities around Metro Manila through NGOs and foundations. They provide the communities with scrap cloth, which is then turned into products that are later assembled in Rags to Riches' in-house workshop.

Where are Rags to Riches products sold?

Rags to Riches products are sold in around 15 retail outlets in the Philippines, including five-star hotels and high-end boutiques. They are also available in trunk shows in Europe.

What are the long-term goals of Rags to Riches?

Rags to Riches aims to become a global Filipino eco-ethical fashion and home brand. They want to showcase the talent of Filipino artisans and inspire others by demonstrating how a successful business can empower communities and protect the environment.