Wearsos is on a mission to transform waste into opportunity, empowering women in rural Costa Rica and uplifting communities.
By upcycling retired airline seats, Wearsos crafts sustainable, high-quality products like backpacks, passport holders, luggage tags, and fanny packs – helping divert tons of waste from the landfills.
But it isn’t only about the bags, it’s about the impact. Wearsos aims to provide well-paying jobs for women in underserved communities, providing them with training, personal development opportunities, and a path to economic independence. Education is one of Wearsos pillars, through their experiential learning tours, they also engage with the global community. These immersive programs connect students, travelers, and organizations to the principles of circular economy, ethical fashion, and community-driven development. Through a combination of education and action, Wearsos is proving that sustainability and upcycling can be a powerful tool for social change.
The Wearsos Origin Story
Wearsos was founded in 2019 by Lynne Corvaglia and her husband, Christian Riquelme, through Southwest Airlines’ “Repurpose with Purpose” program, which sought partners to creatively reuse retired airline seats. At the time, Lynne was completing her placement at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) in Costa Rica, studying the challenges women faced in the tourism industry. When Southwest Airlines presented the idea of upcycling their leather seats, Lynne saw an opportunity for the community.
With a background in international development and a passion for creating meaningful change, Lynne partnered with Christian to explore the potential of turning airline seats into marketable products. Their early experiments, initially under the name SOS Leather, combined Lynne’s development expertise with Christian’s marketing and branding skills.
The breakthrough came when Lynne won a $5,000 pitch competition at her university, providing the seed funding needed to begin prototyping products. Despite the global disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lynne and Christian kept the project alive by pivoting to produce upcycled masks, selling thousands to individuals and businesses. This experience strengthened their collaboration and validated the potential of their brand, which they renamed Wearsos.
By 2023, Wearsos had secured a grant from Southwest Airlines, allowing the company to scale operations, secure workspace, and formally launch its upcycling program. The impact was immediate, with Wearsos hiring its first artisans, including Carolina, a single mother and survivor of domestic violence. Since working at Wearsos, Carolina has been able to graduate high school, build her first home, and provide her children with a safer future—just one example of how Wearsos is transforming lives in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Wearsos’ Vision for Social and Environmental Impact
Wearsos operates at the intersection of sustainability, social impact, and education, focusing on three core pillars that define its mission:
1. Upcycling for Sustainability
Wearsos transforms retired airline seats—materials that would otherwise languish in landfills—into durable, stylish products. Using innovative techniques, the company repurposes leather, foam, and airline seat components into items like backpacks, passport holders, and luggage tags. Additionally, Wearsos incorporates other sustainable materials such as Piñatex, a byproduct of pineapple farming, and E-Leather, a sustainable alternative to leather. By keeping tons of materials out of landfills, Wearsos is championing a circular economy and showing that waste can become a resource. Their products are not only functional but also a tangible example of how sustainability can be woven into everyday life.
2. Empowering Women in Rural Communities
At the heart of Wearsos’ mission is its commitment to empowering women in rural Costa Rica. The company focuses on creating stable jobs in regions where opportunities are limited, particularly women in underserved communities. Wearsos goes beyond providing employment by offering comprehensive training programs that teach sewing, craftsmanship, and personal development. Artisans are supported with one-on-one counseling and workshops led by certified psychologist Dr. Laura Yure. These sessions address mental health, build confidence, and provide tools to overcome personal and professional challenges. For many women, working with Wearsos marks their first experience in formal employment. The impact is life-changing, as artisans gain financial support, and personal development.
3. Educational Experiences Through Experiential Learning:
Wearsos believes in the power of education to inspire change. Through partnerships with organizations like Terra Education, Where There Be Dragons, and universities such as Abilene Christian University, Wearsos hosts immersive experiential learning tours.These programs offer travelers and students a firsthand look at the upcycling process and its broader impact. Participants visit rural communities, interact with artisans, and engage in workshops that highlight circular economy and community-driven development. Activities often include visits to Mollejones, a small village where airline seats are disassembled, as well as hands-on experiences like bread-making or sustainable cacao farming.
How You Can Support Wearsos
Wearsos offers a variety of products and services for you, such as bags and accessories, wholesale corporate gifting, speaking engagement, and tours. By purchasing their products you are also helping them advance their mission. Additionally you can donate to their cause and help provide workshops, and empowerment opportunities. Every contribution helps reduce waste, create life-changing opportunities for rural women, and builds a more sustainable future.
