How Qatar-Based Athleisure Brand RSPR Is Putting The Middle East On The Sustainable Fashion Map

Harper’s Bazaar chats with sustainable
fashion trailblazer Rina Saleh

Saving the planet and keeping bacteria at bay, one workout at a time, Qatar-based athleisure wear brand RSPR is putting the Middle East on the sustainable fashion map. It all started when its founder Lebanese-American Rina Saleh learned that the medical masks distributed at the start of the Covid pandemic could take up to 450 years to break down in landfill.

“I felt a need to find a better solution,” the mother and entrepreneur tells Bazaar on location at the brand’s latest campaign shoot. “The amount of harm that would result from the entire planet wearing these masks felt criminal. This led to the birth of RSPR antimicrobial face masks, which didn’t only look and feel better, but also killed the germs that landed on them and could be reused for months.”

I have always valued quality over quantity, which is a key component in reducing the amount of waste we create.

Rina Saleh

From face masks to fashion, RSPR expanded into sustainable sportswear made from recycled plastic bottles; producing sweat-eliminating garments that also provide antimicrobial protection in killing odours and bacteria while allowing fabrics to last longer – meaning less waste. The brand’s latest drop, envisaged around unisex streetwear, incorporates an increased amount of recycled plastic per garment.

The result is a line of upscale looks that can be worn multiple ways, taking consumers from day-to-night paired with either trainers or heels. Its oversized sweatshirt 73 (73 representing the approximate number of recycled bottles per piece) doubles as a great mini dress when paired with tights and boots, whilst RSPR’s Baggy Sweats 73 look great with a crop top and gladiator sandals. “I have seen our women’s leggings 42 paired with heels and a blazer during evenings out and it always makes me so happy and proud,” Saleh enthuses.

Until her Covid epiphany, Rina may have been less aware of the sustainability crisis but was always mindful of the environment. “Before RSPR, I was relatively uneducated when it came to the harmful impact the fashion industry had on the planet. Having said that, I have always valued quality over quantity, which is a key component in reducing the amount of waste we create.” Saleh comes to the world of value-driven fashion with two master’s degrees: one in Public Communication and another in Third World Development. The style maven is committed to giving back just as much as she is committed to changing consumer habits. The brand has already worked with UNICEF and supported children’s education and the empowerment and safety of girls through several projects.

RSPR also recently donated 100 percent of profits from its Qatar National Day, and Ramadan face mask collections to The Dynamic Futures Project in Lebanon, and S.A.G.E Innovation Centre’s ‘Everything but a Girl’ campaign in Yemen. Looking ahead, they will continue to support both local and global initiatives.

Saleh believes attitudes towards sustainable fashion in the Middle East, like elsewhere, are changing and consumers are now more ready to embrace eco-conscious brands and shape their own voice in and around the climate crisis. About 30 per cent of RSPR’s audience is from Doha, followed by Lebanon, Oman then the UAE and about 60 percent are female. Available for international shipping via its online website, the brand also has a strong physical presence in Galeries Lafayette Doha, Harvey Nichols, Doha, Concrete Active and at Studio 7 in Msheireb Downtown. “We have reached the point where we are ready to expand into the United States, Asia and Europe,” says Saleh.

In order to obtain the sort of innovative quality that sets RSPR apart, the clothes and masks are made in South Korea where textile manufacturers are able to ensure the highest standards and Oeko-tex certification. Oeko-tex ensures that all components, and their end products, are non-hazardous. In addition, RSPR incorporates Repreve to ensure that they are made from recycled plastic and a Microban antimicrobial treatment that has been proven safe for the ecosystem.

So where to next for the intrepid trailblazer? Having discovered that hand wipes are also posing a significant environmental problem, taking over 100 years to biodegrade, it comes as no surprise that this is Saleh’s latest mission. “Our antimicrobial hand wipes are being produced in Italy using a formula that is unique to us and has gone through extensive testing,” she tells Bazaar. Ultra-moisturizing and safe on your skin, they come in a gardenia-amber scent. “After rounds of testing, I am thrilled to say they are finally in production and should be here soon.” Sustainable sportswear and innovative new launches? The RSPR future looks bright.

For more information visit rspr.shop

Lead Image: Supplied

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Qatar Special, Winter 2022 Issue