How Our Craft Collective Came to Be: A Story of Creativity and Social Transformation

Have you ever stopped to think about how small initiatives can transform communities? The story of our collective is exactly about that: transforming creativity into cultural identity and democratizing access to art.

Since 2020, we have been building an exciting journey in the world of crafts and the creative economy in Três Rios, in the interior of Rio de Janeiro. And if you are looking for inspiration or want to understand how crafts can generate social impact, this story is for you!

2020, A Year of New Beginnings

It all started in 2020, a year that challenged the entire world. While the world was afflicted by a pandemic, we saw hope and a unique opportunity: to bring art to those who most needed affection and connection.

It was in this context that the Sewing Workshop Collective began, with a clear purpose: to transform creativity through various artistic languages. We didn't just want to teach techniques—we wanted to create a movement to promote local culture and democratize knowledge.

What Drives Us

Democratizing Access to Culture

Have you ever felt that art and culture should be accessible to everyone? This is one of our fundamental pillars. We work with all ages, taking workshops to schools, community spaces, and places where culture does not always reach.

By 2025, we had already carried out 4 free projects in Três Rios, impacting more than 300 people who participated in our cultural workshops. And you know what's most incredible? Each student leaves here not only with a new skill, but with renewed self-esteem and a sense of cultural belonging.

Our Artistic Languages

The collective operates on multiple creative fronts:

• Creative Sewing - transforming fabrics into functional art

• Macramé - reviving ancient techniques

• Sustainable Crafts - because art and environmental awareness go hand in hand

• Photography and Cinema - recording and valuing our culture

The Team That Makes It Happen

Behind every workshop, there is a team passionate about what they do:

• Lucimar Costa - with her dedication and vision for social transformation

• Jurema Vasconcelos - bringing experience and artisanal wisdom

• Deivison Chioke - in creative direction, connecting tradition and innovation

Together, we are more than a team: we are a cultural collective that believes in the power of art to change realities.

Our History

First Steps in the Digital World (2020)

We started modestly, but strategically. Our first online sewing course reached over 280 views in 2020. It may seem like a small number, but it represented the beginning of something much bigger: taking knowledge beyond physical boundaries.

One of our tutorial videos on “How to Change Needles” went viral and surpassed 9,000 views! This showed that there was an audience eager to learn crafts in an accessible and educational way.

Strengthening Through Cultural Policies

Our big turning point came when we started to access municipal cultural policies:

2021 - With the Aldir Blanc Law, we carried out our first major project: the Introduction to Modeling and Sewing Course, training dozens of people in professional techniques.

2025 - At Politica Nacional Aldir Blanc (PNAB) / Três Rios, we launched the “Artesanato Conectado” (Connected Crafts) project by art educator Lucimar Costa, including:

• Expressive Painting Workshop on Social Napkins

• Fabric Decoupage Workshop

• Keyring Creation Workshop

• Web series “Artesanato Conectado”, where we present the techniques and cultural movements of crafts in Três Rios.

And the “Cordões que Transformam” (Strings that Transform) project by art educator Jurema Vasconcelos:

• Workshop “Strings that Transform” (sustainable crafts made from recycled materials)

Bringing Art to Schools

One of the most rewarding moments in our history was when we managed to bring the “Artesanato Conectado” (Connected Crafts) and “Cordões que Transformam” (Strings that Transform) projects to the Multicultural Artesania Festival program in schools:

• Joaquim Tibúrcio Junqueira Municipal School (2025)

Seeing the eyes of children and teenagers light up when they discover that they can create with their own hands is indescribable. We are planting seeds of cultural appreciation that will germinate for generations.

Beyond the Workshops: Active Participation in the Community

Fairs and Cultural Events

Our collective is not confined to the four walls of the workshop. We participate in various events that promote the creative and solidarity economy:

• Multicultural Artesania Festival (2024)

• Rio Artes - Creative Economy Fair (2024)

• Mother's Day Exhibition at São Sebastião Square (2024)

• Creative Christmas in partnership with Sicomércio TR (2022)

Each fair is an opportunity to connect local artisans with their audience, generating income and strengthening the cultural economy in the region.

Training and Continuing Education

Because we believe in lifelong learning, we actively participate in training opportunities:

• Pontão Gestão Viva - Training Caravan in Mendes (2025)

• Desenvolve RJ - Development and Entrepreneurship Forum (2025)

• Capacitação Caçula - Freehand Fabric Painting Workshop (2023)

Learning has always been part of our DNA. The more we empower ourselves, the better we can empower others.

Awareness and Representation

On National Black Awareness Day (2025), we had the honor of giving a lecture on “The Importance of Black Culture in Trirriense and Brazilian Culture.” This moment reinforced our commitment to valuing cultural diversity and recognizing Afro-Brazilian roots in handicrafts.

Partnerships that Multiply Impact

No collective grows alone. Throughout this journey, we have established more than 5 strategic collaborations and partnerships:

• Comendador Levy Gasparian City Hall - Costurando Cidadania Social Project (2022)

• Sicomércio Três Rios

• Municipal and state public schools

Each partnership represents an expansion of our reach and our ability to transform lives through art.

Crafts as a Tool for Social Transformation

Creative and Solidarity Economy in Practice

Our collective is living proof that craftsmanship is not just a hobby—it is economics, culture, identity, and social transformation. We operate on the three pillars of the solidarity economy:

1. Social inclusion - offering opportunities to those on the margins of the formal market

2. Sustainability - valuing recycled materials and conscious practices

3. Self-management - empowering each person to be the protagonist of their own story

You Can Be Part of It Too

If you identify with our story and want to:

• Learning crafts and developing a new skill

• Participate in cultural workshops in Três Rios

• Be part of the collective as a partner or collaborator

• Bring our workshops to your school or institution

Get in touch with us! Follow @oficinadecosturatresrios on social media and stay up to date with all the latest news.

Conclusion: Art, Identity, and Community

The history of our collective is one of creative reinvention, cultural appreciation, and, above all, love for art and people. Starting in 2010 with a course in modeling and sewing, we proved that it is possible to transform society through craftsmanship, democratizing knowledge and creating opportunities.

Every workshop held, every student trained, every product created is a small brick in the construction of a more just, creative, and culturally rich society.

Are you ready to be part of this transformation? Handicrafts can be a way to develop your creativity, generate income, and connect with your cultural roots.

Shall we create with art and identity together?

2024 - For the Paulo Gustavo Law (LPG) / Três Rios, in person, we expanded with the Handicraft Workshop: Expressive Painting on Fabric, bringing color and creativity to new spaces such as the Moacyr Padilha State School.