A textile collective for Eldorado-Diadema, Brazil

It has now been over a year since our teacher Carol, who played a key role in establishing the Eldorado Textile Project, moved on. Since then our local teachers have been embracing new initiatives in innovation and growth. They have also worked hard to strengthen the Collective’s profile locally, for example by organising a highly successful traditional July winter festival at ACER. However, financial sustainability remains a significant challenge. Income from commissions and donations is insecure, and revenue through sales of artisan products at craft fairs has declined in recent years due to the growing dominance of online shopping in Brazil. To ensure the the project’s long-term sustainability, the Collective needs to focus more on increasing local sales within the São Paulo region.

With this in mind, we held a group meeting aimed at providing clearer insight into the various strands of funding that support the Eldorado Textile Project and the financial problems it currently faces. Since then we have worked together to find ways of raising the proportion of funding obtained in Brazil while maintaining a balance between the generation of funds and the support of an ethos that includes community values and creativity as fundamental elements.

We are pleased to report that our members have already come up with some promising initiatives. Gilvanete has facilitated the setting up of a display case for Eldorado Textile products in ACER’s reception area that will give visitors the opportunity to make purchases. Martah, a friend of Gilvanete who joined the Collective earlier this year, and has excellent social media skills, has created a plan for an online marketing and sales initiative. She has been encouraging members to participate using both voice and text messages on the group’s WhatsApp chat, which makes it easier for those with limited literacy to engage.

We are now looking forward to the official launch of the ‘Eldorado Showcase’ at ACER on Saturday, October 25. During this event, our stitchers and embroiderers will present their work, share ideas for future products and offer items for purchase starting from R$ 5.00 (approximately US $1.00).

There’s a growing sense of excitement on the group’s WhatsApp, which is filled with photos of creative new pieces, especially from some of the talented women who have been part of the project for a number of years and continue to expand their skills and mentor the newcomers. It’s inspiring to see this renewed energy emerging as we work together to build a sustainable future for our collective.