Rags2Riches presents: ATHLETENIQUE BY RAJO LAUREL

A brief history about R2R: Rags2Riches started as a dream of a group of three people who wished to create a huge change in our society. R2R was established when the three have crossed paths with the artisan women of Payatas. These women from Payatas collect scraps of fabric from waste bins and turn them into foot rags in order to make a decent living. Later on, rags making has become a small industry in the area, and they have become the target of greedy businessmen. These companies have infiltrated their industry, seized it, and capitalized so much on their skills. At the end of the day, the women, tired and overworked from all the collecting and sewing, hardly earned anything to satisfy their families, let alone themselves.

The R2R team, deeply moved by the situation of the artisan women of Payatas, have decided to start changing society through them. Little did they know that this collaboration would be the start of something grand, inspiring, successful, and life- changing. Rags2Riches formally became a fashion enterprise, and employed and taught the Payatas women how to make beautiful bags instead of rags from scrap fabric. The R2R team did the networking, marketing, and selling, while the women manufactured the bags. What sets R2R apart from other local enterprises is that the women earn justifiable salaries for their labor. Not only that, R2R also gave the artisan women fair access to the market by exposing them to it and educating them about starting their own businesses.

More than a fashion label, Rags2Riches is a movement. It is one of the most active socially- driven enterprises that hope to end poverty by empowering the poor. The brand's enduring philosophy "DO WELL BY DOING GOOD" clearly goes to show that the most outstanding endeavors are always built on benevolent intentions.

For R2R's S/S 2012 collection, Rajo Laurel has lent his designing prowess once again to Rags2Riches and came up with ATHLETENIQUE, a colorful and fun collection that celebrates the philosophy 'Fitness is fashion'. In Athletenique, athletic and ethnic influences collide to create an amalgam of textures that befit the summer season.

March 22, 2012 marked the launch of this exciting new collection from one of the brilliant minds in the fashion industry, and one of the most outstanding local enterprises, Rags2Riches. Here are some few shots from the event:

The installation was created by Filipino sculptor, Leeroy New.

The hands behind every stitch: Some of R2R's employed artisan women from the Payatas area. R2R also aims to touch more lives by expanding and tapping into different underserved communities this year.

Presenting the bags from the Athletenique Collection:

If you want to be part of something great, always involve yourself in things and opportunities that aim to make a change. If you buy any of these bags, you get to empower more people and improve more lives. Rags2Riches is available in Firma, House of Laurel, Aranaz, Oliver Tolentino, and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (Makati, Edsa, Mactan, Boracay). For more information, please visit RAGS2RICHES ON FACEBOOK.