From trash to gold

“Eighteen years ago, R2R (Rags2Riches) began with a simple but radical idea: that waste could become worth and that fashion could be a force for good,” said Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, president and founding partner of the social enterprise — a visionary statement made with a dream to make the world a better place and help the environment from troubling pollution.

Founded in 2007 by Fernandez-Ruiz, Mark Ruiz, Senator Bam Aquino and Timi Aquino, R2R partnered with Payatas artisans earning only P10 to P16 daily, upcycling scrap textiles into fashion pieces.

Last 27 November, R2R, the premier sustainable fashion brand, marked its 18th anniversary with an intimate gathering at SoFA’s Collab Cove, The Proscenium at Rockwell — the company’s first in-person celebration since 2020.

The celebration was made possible by Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen and SoFA Design Institute. The event also unveiled ambitious plans, including the brand’s first permanent mall space since 2020, a headquarters combining atelier-retail-cafe in Quezon City; a partnership with One Down Media for global reach and the launch of R2R Bespoke custom pieces.

Next year is indeed a promising year for the label. Unveiling are three new collaboration collections: with Christian Cera, On Repeat in partnership with Repamana and with artist Leeroy New. All of them will be exclusively available at the brand’s pop-up located at the 2F Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City. As Fernandez-Ruiz declared, “2026 is going to be extraordinary.”