Therese “Reese” Fernandez-Ruiz was included in the list of 30 Social Entrepreneurs Below 30 Years Old according to the leading financial magazine in the world, Forbes magazines. The 29-year-old Reese Fernandez literally turned rags to riches as he was included in the elite list of the entrepreneurs under 30 years old.
Reese Fernandez opened opportunities residing in Payatas dump site in Quezon City through a business venture-cum-livelihood project she co-founded in 2007 called Rags2Riches.
Since the year she co-founded the company, the social entrepreneur and her colleagues have been helping in poor communities in the Philippines make a living from weaving eco-ethical fashion and home accessories for their startup Rags2Riches.
Reese Fernandez joined the elite group of people who are directing their talent and conviction to better the world, according to Forbes description of the elite list that include the Filipina entrepreneur.
According to the history of Rags2Riches, the women from the dumpsite in Manila, home to about 12,000 families, used to earn a living by turning scrap fabric materials (retaso) into doormats and rugs.
From where the women started, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz taught them how to craft scrap fabric into marketable items such as fashion handbags, eyeglass cases and wine bottles to augment their income.
Well-known Filipino designers Armina Aranaz-Aluna, Rajo Laurel and Olivia d’Aboville have collaborated with Rags2Riches while TV hosts Bianca Gonzales and Kim Jones, celebrity stylist Liz Uy and ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon have endorsed their products.
The Rags2Riches has trained over 900 Filipino community-based artisans, whose products are being distributed in retail outlets here and abroad.
I salute you…