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Heather Arellano was the first person in her family to earn a college degree - so she knows firsthand how education can change a life for the better, forever. That’s the inspiration behind R.O.S.E clothing, the one-woman social enterprise that sells clothes made from recycled materials and donates half the proceeds to nonprofit organizations. R.O.S.E. stands for Respect Others, Self, Environment.
An art designer by trade, Arellano wanted to do something to improve educational opportunities for girls around the world. So she sat down with her sketchbook, and began to brainstorm a fashion collection. With the help of a Kickstarter campaign, R.O.S.E clothing was born. In her own words, “I truly believe that fashion has the power to change people's lives and make a difference. If TOMS can do it with shoes then so can I.”
The system is simple. For each collection, Arellano selects a nonprofit to support, and designs clothing around that concept or subject matter. So for example the collection supporting She'sTheFirst.org, a New York organization that provides scholarships to girls in low-income countries, is made up of eco-friendly "School Themed" leggings, scarves, t-shirts, and necklaces. All of the clothing products are made from recycled plastic bottles.
Arellano and R.O.S.E give a brilliant example of how anyone can make a difference - it’s just a matter of working out what you’re good at and getting your message out there.
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