Fashionistas Pearl and Daisy Lowe visited the favelas of Brazil to see how a Christian Aid-funded fashion scheme is making a difference to women’s lives.
Pearl Lowe and her daughter Daisy are no strangers to the fashion world.
Pearl, the one-time Britpop star, is now a successful designer, while Daisy is one of Britain’s hottest young models, having modelled for Gucci, Burberry and Agent Provocateur.
‘This project is really changing lives.’
However, last week they found themselves in the front row of a fashion show with a difference.
Video: see Pearl and Daisy as they meet the Costurart women - click on the image below and press play
They were in Salvador, Brazil, to visit Christian Aid’s partner CESE (Coordinating Committee for Ecumenical Service) which backs a local fashion project, Costurart.
The project’s aim is to empower women and encourage them to support each other, make clothes and earn money to improve their lives.
Safe haven
As well as providing work, Costurart offers a safe haven from poverty, drugs and violence – all of which blight women’s lives on a daily basis.
Pearl said: ‘Considering everything these women have to cope with, it was wonderful to see them laughing and working together.
‘I found out that many of the women used to be too afraid to leave the house – this project is really changing their lives.’
Pearl and Daisy got to sample some of their unique designs, all created in a small house in one of Salvador’s notorious favelas, at a Costurart fashion shows – Daisy even joining local models on the catwalk.
A life of violence
Sitting on a flat roof overlooking the favela, Pearl and Daisy met Rose, one of Costurart’s founding members.
Rose told them that many women in the neighbourhood are subjected to violence from all angles – partners, drug dealers and even the police.
Children are also at risk as dealers target kids as young as eight to ferry drugs through the streets.
‘It’s clear that in this neighbourhood, women have to rely on each other,’ said Pearl.
‘It was great to see how a small amount of money is making such a difference,’ said Pearl. ‘I’d urge everyone to give what they can this Christian Aid Week.’