PH social enterprise Rags2Riches wins int’l fashion grant

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PH social enterprise Rags2Riches wins int’l fashion grant
The social enterprise is the first fashion brand outside of the United States and Canada to win a grant from prestigious New York-based fashion brand, Eileen Fisher

MANILA, PhilippinesRags2Riches, a Philippine-based social enterprise that has built its name on “upcycling” scrap cloth into premium fashion accessories and home décor, has been selected as one of the 5 grantees of the prestigious Eileen Fisher Business Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs. 

Launched in 2004 by New York-based fashion brand Eileen Fisher, the annual grant program supports women-owned businesses that, in the company’s words, “are socially-conscious and committed to sustainability” to enable these enterprises to “expand their businesses and potential for positive social and environmental impact.”

ARTISINAL PRODUCTS. A bag made by R2R artisans. Photo courtesy of Rags2Riches

Each grantee will receive $18,500 and will participate in a 3-day workshop in New York City, where they will get the chance to learn from Eileen Fisher, fellow grantees, and the Eileen Fisher community.

Responding to Rappler’s questions via email, representatives from Eileen Fisher said that around 130 applications were submitted for this grant cycle.

They said criteria for the grant include alignment with the Eileen Fisher company mission and leadership practices; integration of social consciousness practices in core of business, and passion and resilience of the entrepreneur, among others.

“Geography is not necessarily a specific consideration in the selection process,” the representatives said. “Currently, the Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant is open to any business that meets our eligibility criteria and is able to complete the application and interview in English.” 

Asked what made the Rags2Riches’ application stand out, they said: “We receive many applications from mission-driven businesses that hope to provide sustainable livelihoods to artisans. Some of them have beautiful products, some of them have innovative business models, and others are led by smart, values-based leaders. It is rare, though, to see a business who has all 3 qualities.”

“We were inspired by Rags2Riches’ commitment to good design and doing business to do good as well as its focus on creating economic opportunity in its own community,” they added.

Weaving social good into business

From its inception in 1984, the Eileen Fisher brand has always stood for simplicity and empowerment. The company was founded by designer Eileen Fisher with only “US$350 in savings,” inspired by – of all things – her uniform in a Catholic school.

Her eponymous brand became popular among women who aspired for an “effortless” but stylish look, and it is now in at least 60 stories in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The brand also ships to “over 99 countries” through its online store.

Eileen Fisher

Recognizing the environmental impact of manufacturing, Eileen Fisher started using organic and natural fibers in its designs 10 years ago. The company also works with artisan communities, subscribes to fair trade practices, and has a program called “Green Eileen.”

“From the very beginning, it mattered that we work with ethical partners who  share our values,” Fisher shares through the company website.  “I care about how we collaborate with the sewing factories, from how we speak to them to how we help them understand the flow of work.” 

In many ways, Rags2Riches fits perfectly within the value system and philosophy of both Eileen Fisher, the designer, and the brand.

R2R, as the brand is also called, was established as a social enterprise from the very beginning, to emphasize its mission of uplifting the lives of its artisans from partner communities. It saw the opportunity to create high-value and upscale fashion pieces out of footrugs made from scrap cloth, also eliminating middlemen and ensuring fair wages and an empowering work environment for its artisans.

Since 2007, R2R has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Philippine fashion including Rajo Laurel, Amina Aranáz-Alunan,  Oliver Tolentino, and Olivia d’Aboville. Its collections have grown in concept and sophistication, with pieces that are highly coveted and go out of stock soon after sales are announced online.

 Photo courtesy of Rag2Riches

Aside from ensuring strict quality control for its products, R2R also runs what they call the “Artisan Academy” and “Quality of Life Program,” where “artisans hone their skills and get health and financial training.” 

R2R has also expanded its reach from a dumpsite in Payatas, Quezon City, to other communities and indigenous regions in different parts of the Philippines. Its artisans now number over 900, and the brand’s products are sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other parts of Europe – aside from its own stores in Metro Manila  and its online shop.

In a response to questions emailed by Rappler, R2R chief executive officer and co-founder Reese Fernandez-Ruiz talked about the “resonance” between their values and Eileen Fisher’s. 

“Eileen Fisher, as a fashion brand, is proving that it’s possible to have a sustainable and global fashion brand that cares for the environment and for people, and it just makes a huge statement in the fashion industry. This industry can do a lot more to make a positive change through their supply chain and through the things they support, and Eileen Fisher is one of the companies who strive for this,” she said.

“The grants we receive are usually about social entrepreneurship and development, and they’ve made a big impact in our lives and in the lives of our artisans. But the Eileen Fisher grant is the first award that we received from a fashion brand, a brand that also has the same values as R2R,” Fernandez-Ruiz shared.

According to her, the grant will be crucial in helping R2R sustain its operations and “[provide] artisans with livelihood they can rely on.”

“Our goal is to be sustainable as a business and a social enterprise – we have to build more stores and grow our online channels. These channels will provide more opportunities for artisans. After all, our end goal in R2R is to provide for more opportunities for artisans to get out of poverty,” Fernandez-Ruiz said.

She added, “The grants and awards are really great and encouraging, and they help us push our vision forward, but winning them is not actually our goal. They just tell us that we are doing a good job but they’re also a challenge to do more.”

The R2R founder also shared her dream for the company: “Our dream is to be a platform for artisans to get out of poverty and we can do that well through expanding our market reach.”

“We are so excited because R2R is going places and getting a lot of love from people around and outside the Philippines!” she added.

Meanwhile, Eileen Fisher representatives expressed confidence in R2R’s ability to fulfill its vision and mission for the company and for its artisans.

“We know from experience, especially for social enterprises, that to be successful, it’s vital that any business designed to solve a social problem be created in collaboration with the community it seeks to support,” they said.

“Because Rags2Riches is led by locals, has invested significant time and resources in understanding the needs of the people they hope to serve, and has a unique employee ownership structure, we felt confident that the Rags2Riches model was one that been developed in collaboration with the community and would be able to achieve its mission,” they added. – Rappler.com

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