Bag this Bargain
Manila is the place to hunt for bargains on clothes, accessories, and jewelry. But why stop at a bargain when you can help out a good cause as well?
RIIR or Rags to Riches is an organization aimed at giving the women of Payatas- a slum area located in Metro Manila’s main trash dump. Impoverished communities set up residences on the mountain and try to make a living out of recyclable pieces found in the daily deposits of garbage. Some women support their families by sewing rags from disposed cloths. Indeed, some people make the saying of finding treasure in someone else’s trash is true.
RIIR was started by young professionals from Life’s Directions Community and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan of the Society of Jesus to try and give the women of Payatas fresh new opportunities to use their skills. Their most recent endeavor is a partnership with local bag designer Amina Aranaz.
Their efforts gave birth to three lines: “Lambat” (macramé), “Aplaya” (braided and roped) and “Rosette” limited-edition collections. The bags range from P900 to P5,500.
Aranaz who holds shops in the most upscale malls in the Manila also sourced materials from scraps from a t-shirt factory- making them extra eco-friendly. The women of Payatas honed their skills through seminars given at the School of Fashion and the Arts in Makati in order to make all the bags by hand. Whether or not the bags sell like hotcakes, the women have been paid for their work. From making P1 per rag, they were able to earn as much as P12,000 a month. Now, I’m seeing green.
Have a look at their creations...
http://styleandrelax.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-rags-to-bags-rags-ii-riches.html