Rags2Riches
Rags2Riches is a Filipino social enterprise founded in 2007 that makes bags, accessories and home goods with community artisans. It began in Payatas, near Manila, with fabric foot rugs and has since moved into fashion bags.
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Origin | Payatas, Manila, Philippines |
| Model | Social enterprise |
| Artisans trained | More than 1,000 |
| Website | rags2riches.ph |
What is Rags2Riches?
Rags2Riches, also known as R2R, is a fashion and lifestyle brand from the Philippines run as a social enterprise. It works with artisan communities, mostly mothers working from home, to produce woven bags, accessories and home products.
History
R2R was founded in 2007 by a group of young professionals including Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, now its president. It started in Payatas, on the outskirts of Manila next to a landfill, where artisans made rags and foot rugs from scrap fabric, which gave the brand its name. At the time, artisans earned around 20 cents a day.
Products and positioning
The brand moved from foot rugs into fashion bags and accessories, designed in collaboration with a leading Filipino fashion designer. Its approach combines design with fair pay and skills development:
- Training for more than 1,000 artisans across the Philippines
- Bank accounts, savings and financial literacy for artisans
- An artisan academy and the Things That Matter platform
Why it matters
Rags2Riches is a frequently cited example of a fashion business built around inclusive supply chains, and its president has been recognised as a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Rags2Riches?
Rags2Riches was founded in 2007 by a group of young professionals including its president, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz.
What does Rags2Riches make?
Rags2Riches makes woven bags, accessories and home goods with artisan communities in the Philippines.