Meet Rene

Rene has always had a passion for reconstruction and clothing design. After losing her stable job of over 20 years, her son encouraged her to follow her dream by enrolling in a program at a local university to study sustainable clothing. After graduating from her program, Rene opened her own business selling reconstructed clothing items like skirts, shirts, jackets, purses, and wallets out of recycled denim. She typically finds her materials either at thrift stores or through donations from friends. In order to expand her business, Rene joined Grameen America to gain the capital and support she needed to reach new opportunities. Rene has used her first $1,500 loan from Grameen America to invest in new vending opportunities and to get materials she needed, such as threading and finishes, to complete her products.