Escudo de Colombia y texto de la Unidad para las Víctimas

Women who spin memory to build peace

Mara Nieto is a tireless woman, who with her talent, has guided other women victims of various acts of violence to overcome their vulnerability. It does not matter to her to touch doors to carry out her projects, because she has it totally clear: the opportunities are, you only have to know how to reach them.

The knowledge of sewing involves repairing or building things. Sitting in a group and sewing, weaving or repairing is an ancient practice. Like a puzzle, unique pieces are assembled, and the women survivors of conflict in Cesar know it. The design and making of clothes become an opportunity to not forget their loved ones who have disappeared and to walk in search of a society with opportunities and hope.

Mara Helena Nieto is a tireless woman who, with her talent, has guided other women victims of various acts of violence to overcome her vulnerability. It does not matter to her to touch doors to carry out his projects, because she has it totally clear: the opportunities are, you only have to know how to reach them.

She was born 42 years ago in Valledupar. Mother of 3 children, about 15 years ago she started working to help other people who, like her, are survivors of conflict. First, helping care for children with hydrocephalus that were forgotten in hospitals in the Caribbean region. Then, with displaced women and other victimizing acts, with other women leaders such as Angélica Bello, working for women’s rights.

This is how she has made known his clothing line “HILANDO MEMORIA, CONSTRUYENDO PAZ”. An initiative created by the Amor Foundation, which brings together about 45 women victims of acts such as sexual violence, displacement, homicide of family members and forced disappearance. The previous year her catwalk was presented in Valledupar and they were in Colombia Moda. In 2018 she was part of “Sewing of peace, women designing country”, activity that catapulted her designs and that allowed a group of wholesale businessmen to be interested in the catwalk.

“They invited us to participate in a fair in the Shopping Center. They have gone to meet the women who sew these garments to their homes and have been interested in the stories of each of them. Today we have the opportunity to market our products and we have received machinery that strengthens our business, because our goal is to grow and expand our brands, “said Mara Nieto.

For these women the craft of design and sewing allows them to heal wounds. The particularity of the clothing line are the meanings: drawings captured on the hand-painted canvases with figures that recall their victim and surviving relatives; bright colors and pastel shades, asymmetric cuts that give flights and shapes that adapt to the bodies of women, those who have suffered the disproportionate impact of conflict.

“We have traveled this road and we still have to continue walking. The psychosocial accompaniment that we have received from the Victims Unit has been fundamental. We want to strengthen our workshop and with our processes in the Victims Unit, we hope to invest part of these resources in our company. At the present we continue to self-manage opportunities for people to get to know us, we want to get sponsorships from entrepreneurs who are interested in our products and that our compatriots buy from Colombia: this guarantees not only the acquisition of first quality products but also to build hope for the surviving women of conflict, “added Mara Nieto.

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