A fashion collection created by inmates at the Alcaçuz State Penitentiary, in Nísia Floresta, in Greater Natal, received an invitation to participate in New York Fashion Week, in February 2027.
The pieces were developed through the Tecendo Liberdades project, an initiative by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) that combines art, costume creation and professional training within the prison unit.
Named Revoada, the collection brings together 12 looks and 25 pieces produced using manual techniques, such as crochet, macramé, embroidery and yo-yo. The invitation was made by Runway 7, and the event is scheduled to take place between February 10th and 14th, 2027, at Sony Hall, in New York, in the United States.
The project is designed and coordinated by Jéssica Cerejeira, a doctoral student in the Postgraduate Program in Performing Arts at UFRN. Developed since the beginning of 2026, the initiative began with artistic creation and costume design workshops, with the participation of 15 inmates.
The proposal uses as a reference the book The Conference of Birds, by Peter Sís, which tells the story of a group of birds in search of a king. On the journey, the characters cross seven valleys and discover that what they were looking for was within themselves.
Based on this narrative, each participant created their own bird and developed pieces that represent this identity. In clothes, elements such as fringes were transformed into plumage, hats took the form of crests and wide sleeves began to represent wings.
Collection has already been presented in Natal and Santa Catarina
The first presentation of the Revoada Collection took place in July 2026, during GINGA Moda RN, with live broadcast into the prison unit. One of the participants in the parade was João Batista, a former inmate who had already gained freedom. He wore a crochet cloak created during the project.
After the presentation, a video about the collection, published by stylist and fashion journalist Rogério S., gained national attention and received praise from singer Fafá de Belém. The release resulted in more than 12 reports and invitations to present at fashion events.
In September, the collection also participated in the Santa Catarina Fashion Week, in Florianópolis, with support from the Rio Grande do Norte Spinning and Weaving Industries Union (SIFT-RN) and the Rio Grande do Norte State Industries Federation (FIERN).
Project also offers training and income to inmates
In addition to artistic creation, Tecendo Liberdades develops professional training and income generation activities. In October, the interns began training in fashion certified by UFRN, with content ranging from the fundamentals of the area to prototyping. The closing is scheduled for December 12th, with an exhibition-parade.
The Costurando Liberdades project, approved in a pecuniary penalty notice from the Court of Justice of Rio Grande do Norte (TJRN), allocates R$99,300 to the sewing workshop in the prison unit. The proposal foresees the acquisition of industrial machines, mannequins and materials for the activities.
Participants also already produce scholarships on a paid basis, through a cooperation agreement with SIFT-RN. The products will be distributed as gifts at the Industry Fair. The work also contributes to the remission of sentences.
The team forms a partnership with the company Uniformize to enable the sale of the pieces in a collaborative store in São Paulo, with the values being passed on to the interns responsible for production.
For Jéssica Cerejeira, working with costumes allows participants to construct other forms of representation of themselves.
"When a man who has learned to shrink puts on a piece he created himself and walks with his head held high, something is reorganized inside. The costume allows him to be seen through another narrative, other than that of the sentence", he states.
The team is looking for partners and sponsors to make participation in New York Fashion Week possible. For 2027, an exhibition of the pieces at the Pinacoteca and a parade at the headquarters of the Secretariat of State for Penitentiary Administration (Seap) are also planned for 2027.
