In the heart of Baixo Jequitinhonha, in Minas Gerais state, a project transforms lives and fosters entrepreneurship in the next generation. Mãos à Moda Jovem, an offshoot of the Young Entrepreneur Challenge run by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), and Mãos à Moda – Almenara, a Sebrae Minas project with a methodology co-created in partnership with Raízes Sustainable Development, has stood out as a tool for young high school students.
The initiative combines designer fashion and entrepreneurship and seeks to empower students. The aim is to provide autonomy and skills to access new markets, boost the local economy and promote social innovation through the fashion production chain, encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit. It covers six towns in the surrounding region: Almenara, Jequitinhonha, Bandeira, Joaíma, Itaobim and Felisburgo.
“We’re very pleased with what we’ve experienced so far. The challenge has had a very positive response, even beyond expectations. We had envisioned 20 teams signing up – that would have already been considered a success. We had 34. The engagement over time was also very good. We’re now heading to the 8th, to the grand finale, with 15 teams. This shows that the people managed to work hard and deliver.”, says Humberto Pereira, technical analyst at Sebrae Minas in the Almenara micro-region.
Entrepreneurship, engagement, and transformation in practice
With 37 teams registered, each made up of up to four participants, the challenge aims to create a competitive and educational environment, where young people can learn and apply concepts of entrepreneurship and fashion.
“I believe that a project like Mãos à Moda Jovem, which is an adaptation of an existing project, but with the possibility of including us young people, who are often still at a loss as to which path to follow after finishing high school, is extremely important. I, for example, was always sure of what path to follow, but being part of the project has expanded my horizons, revealing skills I didn’t know I had and developing others.
Having the chance to learn about the immensity of the fashion world and, even if only briefly, how its aspects work is wonderful, and also learning about the whole production and creation process behind a finished garment is surreal”, shares Samuel Amaral, 18, about his experience as a beneficiary of Mãos à Moda Jovem.
The project is divided into four phases, combining virtual and face-to-face activities. The first stage, called “Life Project”, carried out by Sebrae, focused on the personal and professional development of the participants, helping them to draw up career plans and objectives.
The second stage is the elaboration of the concept, which was carried out by Raízes. The students take part in training on creative processes and the search for references, culminating in the project’s first delivery, which is the development of the concept for their collection. This is followed by mentoring, in which participants receive design guidance to start visualizing and developing the concept created in the previous phase.
Therefore, the delivery is the design of the collection.
“Among the stages we had and everything that was presented, one of the ones I liked the most was the 2nd one, in which we delivered the tagline, mood board, and concept description. It’s one of the most important, because it’s from there that we start the sketches, modeling, and production of the garment. It’s the stage that determines what will be done next. It requires attention and creativity”, adds Samuel.
For 17-year-old Vitória Figueira de Sousa, sewing was her favorite. “It reminded me of good things about my grandmother. It reminded me that she also had sewing experiences in her life. So I really loved this phase, it was really cool.”, she says.
Final thoughts
Hands-on Fashion” is the name of the final stage of the project. In this practical phase, the students learn from professionals in the field how to make their collections. Francisca Teixeira Rocha is one of the beneficiaries of Mãos à Moda who has passed on her knowledge and says: “It was a rewarding experience that made me leave two meetings: Almenara and Jequitinhonha with a sense of accomplishment, feeling light-hearted and as if my soul had been washed. It was uplifting. I’m an art lover, and I’ve always enjoyed sharing what I know with people.”
In the Challenge, the teams are scored throughout the process. That’s why the final will feature the 15 teams that qualified.
The third delivery will be presented in a fashion show, where the participants must make the main piece of the collection, choose the model, and define hair and make-up for the presentation, highlighting all the effort, commitment, and creativity demonstrated throughout the journey. The 15 finalist teams must produce a look that will be judged at an event on August 8, coinciding with the launch of the Mãos à Moda Almenara capsule collections.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have a company aligned with transforming people’s lives through entrepreneurship, which is Sebrae’s purpose. In addition to technical competence, which is super necessary, we need someone aligned with our purpose. And that’s what we’ve found in Raízes, and we’re very encouraged by it.”, Humberto concludes.
Around here, we believe the same is true, and we’re excited about this delivery! Keep following us for more news.
