Repurposing Discarded Materials with Wearsos: Christian Riquelme Garbanzo’09
The true legacy of UWC Costa Rica lives in our local scholars who take the core principles cultivated on campus and scale them to drive meaningful, global change. A powerful example of this vision in action is a proud alum hailing from the rural heart of Turrialba, Costa Rica. Today, Christian’09, as the Co-Founder of Wearsos, is proving to the world that social entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for good. He is combining his passion for community empowerment with environmental sustainability.
Upcycling Aviation Material into Rural Opportunity
Through a global partnership with Southwest Airlines® and its Repurpose with Purpose initiative, Wearsos tackles complex environmental waste head-on by upcycling discarded airline leather seat covers into high-quality, sustainable fashion goods—diverting thousands of pounds of material from landfills while creating fair, sustainable jobs directly in rural regions. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Wearsos exemplifies how regenerative solutions can operate at the intersection of environmental care and social equity. The venture demonstrates responsible consumption and production by giving industrial materials a second life through innovative design and circular economy models, while simultaneously activating rural economies to generate meaningful financial opportunities and empowering local craftspeople in historically underserved communities. Ultimately, grounded in lived realities, Wearsos proves that business success and positive social impact can co-exist when ventures are built around equity and community collaboration.
The impact extends beyond the upcycling lab itself. Through its local makers’ market, Wearsos has enabled a new sales channel for more than 60 entrepreneurs from the surrounding community, many of them women, helping strengthen local livelihoods and build greater economic resilience in rural Turrialba.
Living the Values of Reciprocity and Stewardship
Whether working with global partners or building economic stability in Costa Rica, Christian’s’09 trajectory mirrors the foundational values experienced on campus. The principles of Empathy, Reciprocity, and Accountability, learning from nature and from each other, remain core guides for UWC Costa Rica graduates leading for change across every industry.
The Legacy Continues Across 1,645 Alums
As our global network grows to over 1,645 alums, stories like this demonstrate how early idealism, paired with a commitment to sustainable innovation, transforms global systems. Inspired to empower the next generation of changemakers? Consider supporting our mission through the Philanthropy & Scholarship Fund today.