2014 Follow The Thread Fashion Show

Follow The Thread was born when the mayor of Bogota had an open call to develop artistic projects for the benefit of the community. Motivated by her vision for fashion, Founder Sandra Raffaelli gathered a team of a fashion designer (Paola Mendez), a psychologist (Janeth Navarrete), and an industrial-graphic designer (Diana Lopez), and connected with the Arturo Tejada Cano School of Design & Fashion Marketing for class space to develop a program to apply for the category of strengthening the artistic rights of persons with disabilities.

In June 2014 it was announced that the team were winners of the scholarship and could finally bring their project to life.

At the beginning, many families would show up frustrated, stating many people had promised help that they never received. Other parents were reluctant, thinking their daughters weren’t capable to learn Fashion Design techniques, and other families showed up excited and ready to explore. Empowerment sessions had started, changing beliefs and transforming limitations.

The Follow the Thread closing event then finally arrived, families excited and everything ready to go. But, the day was not without a few hiccups. And with the miraculous help of strangers, the Creatives could finally have their night after their long, dedicated hours to create their best designs.

These women were empowered and proud of themselves. Little by little they discovered their creativity and let go of fear on the runway to find acceptance and connection with the public. More than 100 people showed up on November 6th at the Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez, to experience fashion, smiles and creativity.