Gomito a Gomito
by Stella Philip
On March 11 the Dickinson Fashion Mosaic went to the Gomito a Gomito cooperative. Gomito a Gomito means Elbow to Elbow. It is a garment-tailoring workshop associated with the Siamo Qua cooperative, a religious organization whose aim is to help disenfranchised people, ranging from youth to people in prisons. The workshop receives donations of dead stock (excess fabric not used in production) from various fashion designers, who otherwise would be charged money for destroying the excess material. Gomito a Gomito offers these companies a more economic and sustainable choice as opposed to just throwing away perfectly fine fabric, while providing opportunities to help support women in need.
Fabrics and utensils at Gomito a Gomito (right and left pictures)
In the pictures below, the Mosaic group is interacting with the Gomito a Gomito cooperative’s directors.
The Gomito a Gomito workshop employs women from the prison on via del Gomito. Our group split into three to interview three women associated with Gomito a Gomito. All three were workers who found the workshop through the prison. The woman whose interview that I, Stella, tagged along with, was named Luana (see picture below), who is finishing her sentence at home and travels to the workshop to volunteer her services. Luana was a vibrant woman, who walked with an air of dignity in her smart attire. We learned that she had been working in the fashion industry prior to her sentence, but she learned how to sew in prison. Her favorite thing to make is a whole outfit. She finds great joy out of creating each piece to go together, as she said that you get to change what you make while sticking with a theme, each garment allowing for an expression of creativity. To Luana, fashion is a way to express herself and to express how she wants to be treated. When asked about what she wants to say with her clothing, she said she wanted to express harmony and precision with what she wears. Her chic black ensemble definitely got that message across. Luana volunteers at Gomito a Gomito, researching the companies who offer donations and researching the organizations who commission Gomito a Gomito for products. Her current goal is to finish her degree in history.
From left to right, Sofia-Teresa, Luana, and Fi. Fi interviewed Luana and Sofia-Teresa served as translator (picture above)
Joy (on the left) is one of the seamstresses that we were able to interview during our visit (picture above)
Our visit to Gomito a Gomito was a powerful one. Luana’s interview was very moving, and it was enlightening to hear about her experience with the Italian prison system.