Seismic

Rags2riches (www.r2r.slb.ph) social entrepreneurship aims to uplift the lives of Payatas families who live near the capital’s garbage dumpsite considered to be one of the Philippines’ most depressed communities. 

 The dumpsite is approximately 22.3 hectares, three times the size of a football field.  Simultaneously, the area is a shantytown home to at least 60,000 people for 27 years since its operation.  It absorbs a quarter of 4,500 metric tons of solid waste churned out daily by factories and homes within Metro Manila where 10 million people live.  This is also the site of the garbage landslide tragedy that shocked the world (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/OCHA-64DBCZ?OpenDocument). 

 Our breakthrough campaign uses the following taglines:

-          ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER’S FORTUNE -  recycling scraps of cloth into attractive and useful rugs thus saving the environment by substantially reducing garbage dumped into Payatas

-          YOU’RE NOT ONLY BUYING RUGS, YOU’RE SHARING YOUR RICHES – advocating just distribution of wealth by involving the two extreme poles of the wealthiest and the poorest

-          “SOSY” (meaning high-end) RUGS WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE – addressing social injustice where middlemen siphon more profits than the workers and channelling them to the workers

-          FILIPINOS HELPING FILIPINOS – providing opportunities to concretely help the country.

The project continues to get the attention of media and prominent personalities.  Phenomenal growth of beneficiaries from 3 to 30+ families in weeks continues to grow with the trajectory of benefiting the entire Payatas area. 

Rags2Riches is an enterprise creating social statement in style. Supported by the country's top fashion designer Rajo Laurel (www.rajo.com) and passionately talented professionals, we help the women of Payatas have been weaving rugs made of scrap cloth found amidst the garbage dumped into their community. These rugs were sold for the measly profit of one peso each, while middlemen made a premium profit of P25.

Now, R2R has upgraded the lives of the poor women of Payatas.  R2R has connected them to the upscale market by producing high-end bags for the elites.  This social enterprise has become the top picks of environmentalists, socialites who have social consciences and passionate volunteers from all walks of life.

The poor women of Payatas who used to earn a measly P1/rug has earned P700,000.00 in a matter of months thanks to the creative and powerful marketing that R2R has implemented.  It has been featured several times by media and top fashion magazines.  Recently, it has gained the attention of international market including a call from Saks fifth avenue.