Rags2Riches (R2R), a social enterprise based in the Philippines, will be expanding to North America with an online shop.
The shop will be operated in partnership with Canadian ethical retailer, Cambio & Co. The shop launches on October 1.
R2R is a 13-year-old fashion and design house that partners with local artisans across the Philippines to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled and overstock fabrics.
The North American expansion advances R2R’s goal of connecting the global Filipino diaspora to local artisans across the Philippines, and ultimately, their heritage, culture, and roots.
Cambio & Co. is a Toronto business showcasing contemporary fashion designed and handcrafted in the Philippines.
“For the past 13 years, we have been weaving joyful stories in the Philippines. While we have a lot of advocates from all around the world, this will be our first time ever to open our own online store in another part of the world!” Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, president and founding partner of R2R said in a media release.
Fernandez-Ruiz added: “Building this online store would allow us to continue creating livelihood opportunities for artisans from the Philippines while making things that matter to our advocates from North America.”
Cambio & Co. was cofounded by Gelaine Santiago, who was named one of Canadian Immigrant Magazine’s RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2019.
Santiago was born in Bulacan, Philippines. She moved to Toronto as a three-year-old.
In 2015, Santiago and partner Jérôme Gagnon-Voyer founded the retail company. For more about her story: https://www.canadianfilipino.net/sections/people/gelaine-santiago-toronto-social-entrepreneur-championing-filipino-artisans
“We want to build bridges between the Filipino diaspora and the homeland, and this partnership does exactly that,” Santiago said.
Santiago added: “By fostering a direct connection between consumers in North America and Rags2Riches, we also fulfill our bigger mission to amplify social enterprises in the Philippines and grow their impact around the world."
To learn more: https://r2rshop.com
Canadian Filipino Net is an independent, non-profit digital magazine produced by volunteer writers, editors, and webmasters. Your donation will go a long way so we can continuously publish stories about Canadian Filipinos. Click on a donate button and proceed either through PayPal, Debit, or Credit Card.