R2R ups artisans' skills for IKEA PH store opening

Rags2Riches (R2R) has shared their ongoing preparations for the opening of IKEA in the Philippines, reportedly in the third quarter of 2021, after an earlier announcement that the social enterprise will be the global furniture brand’s sewing service partner in the country.

“We are currently in the initial stages of the training due to social distancing and limited mobility. However, we were already able to do some sewing training sessions for about 20 of our artisans,” said Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President and Founding Partner of R2R. “For now, we are able to provide sewing training for curtains, pillow covers, and clothes through video calls, recorded videos, and on-the-job practice. We still have many modules lined up that we are hoping to roll out in the same way and hopefully, when the vaccine rolls out, we can hold these training sessions on-site and live.”

Under the partnership, R2R will occupy space inside the soon-to-open-IKEA store in Pasay City, where its artisans will provide varied textile services for IKEA customers such as adjusting the size of fabric-based materials such as curtains and personalizing fabric goods like towels and bedsheets.

The organization remains focused on its purpose of lifting Filipino artisans out of poverty, especially during a global pandemic.

"During a time when a lot of vulnerable people are becoming even more vulnerable, we are able to support our artisans with regular income and livelihoods,” said Fernandez-Ruiz.

Since last year, R2R has decentralized its operations. Most members of the R2R team continue to work from home and coordinate daily deliverables via mobile and online to continue to keep its team safe while keeping livelihood going. Others who need to be travel are provided with bicycles to assist in their transportation needs.

"We have mapped out how this will look like and we'll be able to do this while practicing strict social distancing and disinfection for materials and products that will be passed on from one place to another,” said Fernandez-Ruiz.

According to Cynthia Cabrera, R2R's Community Enterprise Manager and one of the first artisans of R2R from Payatas, the training during the pandemic came with its own set of challenges.

This made it particularly challenging as they worked towards producing high quality products as they learned new sewing techniques.

It is this pursuit of quality that continues to drive R2R, especially as it gears up to meet the global standards of a brand like IKEA.

"A beautiful result of this was that the artisans feel more professional and strive for excellence more,” said Fernandez-Ruiz. “They want that trust and responsibility of a business partnership.”

In a recent press briefing, IKEA shared that the similar values and philosophies is what makes the partnership work.

“Our partnership with Rags2Riches has always been more about than just sealing a deal, we are growing together towards a common goal of making everyday life better for the many,” said Georg Platzer, Market Development Manager for IKEA Philippines.