Volkswagen Foundation: From seamstresses to a network of entrepreneurs

The relationship between Rede Asta and the Volkswagen Foundation began in 2016. Together, we co-created the Reuse Collection with the seamstresses from the Costurando o Futuro Projectto repurpose leftover uniforms, seat belts, and automotive fabric used by the automaker. The goal of this initiative was to create a portfolio of premium corporate gifts that could be resold, generating income for the seamstresses supported by the project.

Years of investing in the sale of Brazilian handmade products have taught Rede Asta a great deal. Aiming for a more substantial impact for the artisans, we started a Business School dedicated to them: Entusiasta. The goal is to bridge gaps in organization and commercial skills, such as formalization, lack of networking, management, communication, and sales. In other words, to transform artisanal production groups into viable and thriving businesses.

The Volkswagen Foundation saw Entusiasta as a way to deepen the work of Costurando o Futuro by creating a network of entrepreneurs. Aiming to foster autonomy and income for the participants, we kicked off the network formation for 17 productive groups¹ supported by the Foundation.

“We live in a network, even without realizing it, from the very beginning of our existence. Our family unit, our school relationships, our workplace, marriage, building a new family... At every moment, life places us in networks woven by the natural flow of the society we are part of. But forming a network consciously, to enhance our own potential alongside others, is not easy. And it was as a mentor at the Artisans' Business School that I saw this happen in practice, and I had the honor of collaborating on this realization,” reports Camila Pinheiro, an Entusiasta mentor for the project.

Strengthening the knots of this network

There were two simultaneous groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, totaling 49 hours of classes over six months of work. Mentor Camila Pinheiro implemented eight modules covering human, technical, and managerial training with the artisans.

The Collective faces many challenges. These women (and man) proved to me that walking alone, while much harder, is quite comfortable—in the sense of a "comfort zone." During the 6 months of the School project, we dealt with countless new situations, and together, we discussed and reflected on how to move forward. We grew. The "other" is a mirror, and relating to them is a wonderful daily exercise in coexistence, strategy, and entrepreneurship.,” says the mentor.

Célia, leader of the CM&C group, showed great progress and commitment to the content and tasks presented during the classes. To reach new sales channels, she contacted several organizations and realized that to land larger clients, she would need a more formal presentation of her business. With the help of the mentor and other students in the network, she built the material and won new clients for her business.

Kafu, from KafuBolsas, did not use his creativity strategically before the Collection Planning class, but he realized he could do things differently to produce more efficiently.I have a habit of just creating and creating. I enjoy it. But before I know it, I have too many bags and too many models. Doing the collection planning and assembly exercise helped me a lot. Breaking the collection down into themes, categories, and products was like creating a foundation. It clarified the production process. Now, I’m going to try to do this before I start producing.,” says the artisan.

Many more stories could be told to illustrate the fruits of this school class, but their growth speaks for itself. In the initial and final diagnostic phases of the project, we classified the groups as basic, intermediate, or advanced. We evaluated the management and operation of the groups across the following themes: formalization, commercialization, production, people management, finance and administration, safety, and quality of life. When we started, 6% were at the basic level, 41% at the intermediate, and 53% at the advanced. By the end, no one remained at or dropped to the basic level, 18% finished at the intermediate level, and 82% at the advanced.

“Mentoring the Costurando o Futuro group was a wonderful experience, building every achievement, every new step, and every realized dream alongside these artisans and seamstresses. New clients, product collections, technical sheets... we learned so much. The future is in a Network, and we continue to build the present together, adding up our individual strengths.”, concludes Camila.

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¹Arte com Alegria; Arte no Presente; Ateliê Caprichos da Cris; Charlotte Arte em Costura; CM&C Confecções; Construart; Cosbrin; Daiane Pereira Acessórios; Diacom Lua; Divina Agulha; DK Consultoria de Moda; Estilo Artesanato; Hasya; KAFU Bolsas; Tecoste Confecções; Teia – NUPE; Zuca's Artes.