Prada and UNFPA Fête Emerging Female Artisans With Annual Training Program

After launching the program in May of 2022, Prada Group and UNFPA have continued to promote the education, training, and empowerment of countless women through "Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears." 

Last year, the program expanded to Querétaro state in Mexico, a region widely recognized for its bustling local markets full of finely crafted artisanal goods. Previously, the program was active in communities in Kenya and Ghana. In keeping with the initiative's mission, 30 female embroiders and weavers were recognized this year as part of the program. Ranging from 18 to 50 years old, the women selected as participants are talented artisans within their communities. Many of these artists operated within small, family-owned workshops and supported their families through the sale of their work at Querétaro's famous markets. 

Throughout the six-month training period that made up the bulk of the program, UNFPA Mexico and Nest, a local non-profit organization, provided participants with the resources needed to amplify their skills and bolster their presence in the community as independent, empowered female artisans. 

Following the rigorous training period, Prada Group and UNFPA fêted the growth, accomplishments, and artistry of the women artisans within the program with a final celebratory event. Including an intimate cocktail hour, a panel discussion by fashion professionals, and an exhibition of over 20 pieces crafted by the participants.

“We are thrilled to see the culmination of the Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears project in Mexico, showcased through a beautiful fashion collection by the women artisans from Querétaro. The essence of this partnership with the Prada Group was to leverage the power of fashion to empower women from vulnerable communities, provide them with practical skills in fashion design and business, and information on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. The result is that they’re able to sustain themselves and their families, their confidence is enhanced and they walk away with a greater sense of agency," said Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at UNFPA. 

The theme tying all of the garments together was "Fortaleza," or in English, strength. Throughout the practical workshops and training that the artisans participated in, they honed their skills and were able to tap into unparalleled senses of fashion design thanks to their backgrounds in craftsmanship. While searching for a common theme to unite the collection, the participants found strength in fashion and female community to be a particularly powerful subject and quickly discovered that it made the perfect motif to express their common experiences. From elegant, flowing gowns to shawls to ruffled skirts to accessories, the "Fortaleza" collection was a triumphant showcase of the creativity, technical skill, and fortitude of the participants of the 2024 "Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears" program.