Sustainability of Social Enterprises: Reese Fernandez
Established by Reese Fernandez in 2007 at the young age of 22, Rags2Riches (R2R)–a social enterprise based in Manila–creates eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled scrap cloth, organic materials and indigenous fabrics by working with artisans living in the poor communities across the Philippines. Since its founding, R2R has trained more than 900 artisans across 25 marginalized sectors in the Metro Manila area, partnered with well-known designers and distributes its work through 70 retail outlets in the Philippines and overseas. Today, the award-winning Ms. Fernandez continues to expand R2R’s social impact and eco-ethical footprints on the local, national and international settings.
Reese Fernandez Awards: Global Good Fund Fellow | Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year | World Economic Forum Young Global Leader | WEF Entrepreneur of the Year Award | Rolex Awards for Social Enterprise Young Laureate inaugural awardee