Learn About Our Amazing Journey
We are passionate, dedicated and talented.
Together we are making a difference.
About Us
Rags to Riches, initially established in 2014 in Dubai by Barbara Evans, underwent a transition in 2018. At that time, Barbara passed the reigns over to co-founders Ceri Rocca, who resides in Dubai, and Fahmida Seitz, based in Abu Dhabi.
Barbara, now residing in her home country, the UK, continues her passion for knitting and crochet for those in need. She generously donates her handcrafted jumpers and hats to local food banks.
Beginning in Dubai, Rags to Riches quickly expanded its reach throughout the UAE and beyond. We are a community of dedicated creatives who channel our sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, and crafting skills for a meaningful cause.
Sustainability is at the core of our mission, and the clothing, toys, blankets, and reusable sanitary pads produced by Rags to Riches are crafted from donated pre-loved fabrics, including bed linen, curtains, and towels, primarily contributed by the expatriate community as they depart the UAE.
Under the capable leadership of Ceri and Fahmida, the Rags to Riches brand has flourished into a thriving community group dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate.
To date, we have gifted over 17,000 purpose-made clothing items for children in need and approximately 7,000 Angel Wings (our reusable sanitary pads) to young women across the world.
We firmly believe in the power of making a difference in someone else’s life. Explore more about our work, our team, and how you can join us in this impactful journey.
What We Do
At Rags to Riches, we leverage our sewing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting skills to craft blankets, children’s clothing, toys, and Angel Wings (our reusable sanitary pads). But what truly warms our hearts is sharing the fruits of our labor. Our handcrafted products embark on journeys around the world, having reached 37 countries thus far. They find homes in orphanages, women’s refuges, refugee camps, and communities in need.
Our commitment to sustainability is paramount. We take pride in transforming pre-loved materials, including bed linens, curtains, and towels, into our creations. This not only reduces the demand for new fabrics, conserving valuable resources, but also prevents tons of fabric from ending up in landfills.
Our community is a diverse group of dedicated, passionate, and talented individuals. Everyone is welcome, regardless of gender! We channel our sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, and crafting passions into a noble cause: breathing new life into pre-loved bed linens, fleece blankets, and fabrics.
These materials are lovingly sewn into dresses, shirts, shorts, hoodies, track bottoms, and an array of other items. We then extend the gift of these creations to orphanages and refugee camps worldwide. Take a glimpse into our journey by exploring our social media photos.
Our Work
Thanks to Nada Dadoush, who collects and distributes items for For Syria, who very kindly delivered our items, so lovingly made to this refugee camp in Bekaa Valley in Beirut.
meet the team
Meet the people who make it all possible
Ceri Rocca
Ceri grew up in the North East of England in a large ‘Geordie’ family and was first taught how to use a sewing machine by her Grandmother as a child. Ceri has always been a creative person and her love of art and design led her to gain a degree in 3-Dimensional Design majoring in Interior Design. Ceri ran her own design business and travelled the world for her design projects over the years. When the family relocated to Dubai in 2016 she decided to pack away her drawing board, however, not one to be idle, she set about trying to find an outlet for her creativity and that’s when she discovered Rags to Riches UAE. and reignited her love of sewing and helping others.
Fahmida Seitz
After stepping away from the corporate world to pursue a degree in Digital Technology, Design, and Innovation, Fahmida stumbled upon a Facebook post seeking women interested in joining a new Abu Dhabi chapter of Rags to Riches. The groups mission was crafting clothing for refugee and orphaned children. Given her deep-rooted passion for this cause, she eagerly joined the team, and it's been an incredible journey ever since. Now, in tandem with Ceri, Fahmida plays a pivotal role in co-managing the group. Her focus extends to communications, marketing, website management, social media, and administrative tasks. Of course, she continues to sew, knit, and quilt with unwavering dedication, creating essential items for children across the globe who hold a special place in her heart.
Barbara Evans
Rags to Riches was founded in Dubai in 2014 by Barbara Evans and has since grown to a group of ladies with a passion for sewing and knitting and using our hobby to bring smiles to children around the world. Barbara has since returned to the UK and has handed the reins over to co-founders, Ceri based in Dubai, and Fahmida based in Abu Dhabi.
