Riir | Rajo's Blog | StyleBible.ph

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The TreeBag Bag launch forR2R!

Friday, June 25th, 2010

I am super excited to share with all of you the photos from the launch of my newest project with Rags2rRiches! It is called the Tree Bag Project!

Presenting....MY TREEBAG!!!!

The packaging! All eco-friedly!

We launched the bag in the very posh Travel Cafe at Greenbelt 5!

The Travel Cafe was so kind to lend us their beautiful space.

It was a lovely gathering of people all supporting this beautiful cause. What makes this project even more significant is that we have fused 4 communities in creation of the bag. We have the weavers of Abra who created the linen fabric of the bag made from scrap thread. Then we have the women of Payatas who braided the handle made from scrap fabric . Then we have the wood carvers of Banglos who created all the wood elements in the bag also from scrap wood. The bag is then sewn in Cebu using out of work factory workers due to the recession. The bags are then shipped back to Manila so that the Rags2Riches team do their quality control, labeling, inventory, costing and packaging!

: Some of the Nanays were there!

The full line! I think that it is so chic?!

One of the biggest bonus of the bag is that for each bag that is bought a tree is planted in a watershed to fight against deforestation! A portion of the sales go to this cause! So really EVERYBODY WINS!!!! Right now the bag will be available in my store the House of Laurel as well as the home website of rags2riches.ph.

Guests were encouraged to sign our tree board.

The great news is that we have already orders from ECO stores in Singapore, Hong Kong and Zurich( all totalling 250 bags) meaning more work and jobs for the communities. We are still working for more areas of distribution and I expect the bags to be sold in Firma and the Echostore in the Fort. If anyone else is interested in buying or distributing the TreeBag please email our R2R president Reese Fernandes at reese.fernadez@gmail.com I am certan that she will be more than welcome to help you!

Spotted my beautiful friend Amina Aranaz-Alunan with her son Lucas. She too has lent her invaluable talents to the program. My wish is more people could help us develop more ideas and designs! Paging all the talented designers out there?!!!!!

Lucas is sooooo cute!!!!!

The party scene!

They had a lovely video to start the program.

We started the program with a moving poetry reading by members of the R2R team! I really liked that touch.

I encourage all of you to PAY IT FORWARD! There is a lot one person can do all it takes in one teeny tiny nudge for an avalanche of miracles to happen!

BIG HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: amina aranaz alunan, fashion, house of laurel, r2r, Rags2rRiches, rajo laurel, Reese Fernandes, riir, tree bag project
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RIIR by Aranaz!

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I may not have a child, but I now know how a parent must feel when a child does so very, very well! I was beaming with pride when I attended the launch of R2R‘s newest line designed by the very talented Amina Aranaz-Alunan. The collection was ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

When Brother Xavi asked me to be part of the Rags to Riches project, it just felt so right. This is exactly how I envisioned where R2R would be heading a collaboration of minds and talents. Now it feels so wonderful to see the women of Payatas creating these beautiful works of art! I had to leave the launch early but I am sure that the collection sold very well. The rest of you must visit the ARANAZ stores in Greenbelt 5 and in Rockwell – there maybe some stock left. The collection is very limited, so come as soon as possible!

: The beautiful and talented Amina Aranaz-Alunan! Thank you, sweetie, for your giving heart!

: This macrame bag is called LAMBAT, the perfect beach tote! I can see every chic gal carrying it in Bora, Bohol and Cebu!

: I loved the concept of the presentation for the launch. Amina, who owns and teaches at the fashion school called SOFA, had the students create lovely “paper” dresses as a perfect foil for the bags!

: I love this bag called the MARIA ROSA!

: A detail shot of the Maria Rosa tote. The rosettes are just so adorable! Can anyone imagine that this used to be scrap and trash?

: I found the perfect summer bag and it’s called APLAYA! This just made me almost scream with delight! The colors are just to die for!

: Amina invited established Filipino fashion designers to participate in the launch. This was created by Dong Omaga-Diaz.

: This amazing dress was done by my dear friend Jojie Lloren. It’s made from newspaper! However, he fused it and sewed the paper like it was a dress! The bag is also soooooo chic!