Photo: Lorenzo Bringheli

Fashion can not only make a difference in a country (or community) is a way to show the world. It is so personal that defines who you are. In my case, it determined my childhood memories. My great-grandmother was a seamstress. Was not a collection, but drew their own patterns, used tissues was within reach and sewed up the covers to match. He died when I was 4 years old, but I still have some of their blouses. He was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union [one of the largest unions in the country during the 30s and 40s, who represented the garment workers with the lowest wages in New York] and fought for civil rights. My grandmother was an activist! Something that has always united us. But above all, it was a woman who brought up his family sewing wonderful pieces that three generations later, still beautiful, "explained S Fashion Rosario Dawson, co-founder, along with Abrima Erwiah of Studio One Eighty Nine, a group in the form of online platform that promotes the work of African creative.

"I am half American, half African", says Erwiah. "My father was born in Ghana; my mother in Mississippi, in 1940, a time in which US racial segregation was still the order of the day. They met in the south, but soon moved to Pittsburg, where my mother's family lived and the black community looked for work in the steel mills. There, her younger sister, whose name was Naomi Sims, tried unsuccessfully be manikin; rejected it for being too dark. One day he met an amazing photographer and ended up on the cover of The New York Times. It was 1967. Two years later appeared in Life magazine. That image marked the beginning of Black is beautiful cultural movement [a slogan that claimed the Black Beauty]. My aunt became the first supermodel color and, for me, is a good example of fashion and creativity can be an engine of social change. "

"We started working in the Studio One Eighty Nine project (and the Rising Fashion collection) two years ago, which is the time we need to build a solid foundation. There is hire a seamstress (or an artisan) have to make sure you have enough money to live and pay, for example, school enrollment of their children, "argues Erwiah. "I have worked with many non-profit organizations. But this is not an NGO. It is a business that has a social impact. I do not understand why strange reason people assume that when things are done well [read ethical trade, business plan responsible, decent working conditions, fair wages and empowerment of women], nobody has to make money. It makes no sense, "Dawson throws. "Here we all win. It is an exchange. You help me; I'll help. The idea is to join forces, "he continues. His speech contagious. Above actress and activist [in 2004, he founded the nonpartisan Voto Latino in order to encourage new generations of Hispanics to vote and participate in government] Dawson is a great communicator.

"Just look economies like Britain [where the textile industry, according to a report byOxford Economics, moves nearly 33,000 million euros] to understand the power of fashion as a wealth generator engine" Dawson continues. "Think, for example, what happened in New York when the Council of Fashion Designers of America was created.Not so long ago that [the CFDA was founded in 1962]. "Another example is made ​​in Italy" adds Erwiah, who worked for ten years for Bottega Veneta. "It was there that I discovered the work (and excellence) of artisans, whose office passed from generation to generation," he says.

"The important thing is that ethics story behind the design through to the background;and creations speak for themselves. Because in craftsmanship, each piece is intended as a work of art, handmade, different, special. Not better, not worse. Only. Because, despite the uniformity of trends, dressing is a way to adorn themselves, differentiate and transform. I know of what I speak. I've been doing 20 years. Clothing is one of the most important parts of the script (and history), "said Dawson, who debuted on the big screen with the controversy Kids (1995) by Larry Clark.

Citizens (and consumers) in the world. The idea of creating a line of artisan production began in February 2011, on a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo organized by the V-Day (that works to stop violence) movement. "According to UN figures, one in three women worldwide will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. That's over a billion women, "Dawson complaint. "We wanted to bring this issue of party girls in a world without borders, to dance and celebrate life. That year we mobilize 207 countries and territories. Why not use that energy to give voice to the marginalized through Internet? "Asks Dawson. "Our goal is to connect African artisans with global value chains of the textile industry," says Erwiah, faithful to the codes of Ethical Fashion Initiative ITC speech. "Today fashion schools teach sustainability. It is proven that you can succeed by applying a model of responsible business. No more anything goes. The new generation has a different way of thinking. It is more open, is in favor of gay marriage and legalizing marijuana, "Dawson judgment.

http://www.smoda.elpais.com/articulos/rosario-dawson/5596