MANAUS (AM) – The 2025 Indigenous Fashion class completed the first module of the free fashion course on the 23rd, focusing on the production of original sketches, with visual arts teacher Seanny Oliveira Munduruku, an indigenous multi-artist. This project was funded by Public Notice 008 of the Aldir Blanc Law, managed by the Manaus City Hall through the Municipal Council of Culture (Concultura).
This is the third edition of the course, with a class of 27 students, comprising seven indigenous and 20 non-indigenous individuals. The class is divided into two shifts, morning and afternoon. All are young students with self-taught sewing skills. The total course load is 100 hours, divided into five modules. The courses take place on Saturdays between June and November 2025. This is a free course for beginners in fashion.
“They are learning the basics of what we produce in our atelier: the technical aspects of fashion, such as sketching (for fashion designers), pattern making (for pattern makers), cutting and sewing (for seamstresses), and artistic painting on fabrics,” explains fashion designer Seanny Munduruku, who is assisted by Elisângela Oliveira.
The textile materials to be used are based on raw cotton fabric. Fish leather and artistic paintings are also highlights.
Regarding the discovery of talent during the existence of the MI Moda Indígena project, since 2022, the designer says that many truly talented people have emerged from the project. “My perspective for them is that they can really take it seriously, dedicate themselves more, go to university,” she reflects.
“And, above all, that they can interact better and give back to the communities they come from.” The designer says her greatest expectation is that great talents will be revealed among the students, and that they will show the Amazonian society their talent and thus occupy these spaces with their indigenous art and the rich regional culture.
The Venezuelan lawyer Darlyn Garcia, 30 years old, from the Araguaco people, in the municipality of São Carlos de Rio Negro and Maroa, located in the Venezuelan state of Amazonas, is a student of Fashion at the André de Valeu Catholic University (UCA), where she studies remotely. She has lived in Manaus for three years, where she works in the human rights center of the Venezuelan NGO Repan, to train young people. Darlyn says she has always liked fashion and says she is thinking of starting a business in Venezuela. “Since the economic and political situation there is very difficult for obtaining financing, we, the women from remote communities, decided to develop sustainable fashion,” she concludes.
Beatriz Laranjeira Barroso, an 18-year-old student of Aesthetics and Cosmetology from Manaus, belonging to the Kokoma people, is also taking a technical course in Occupational Safety at the Federal Institute of Amazonas (Ifam) and says she has always been interested in fashion. Last year, she participated as a model in the indigenous fashion show. “I saw that the call for entries was open, I applied, and I was accepted.” She says she has several ideas in mind. “It’s based solely on Amazonian culture, something very regional and also universal.”
Exhibition in Europe
At the end of this edition, the results of the course will be presented in Manaus, with the location to be defined between November and December.
“We will hold the fashion show during the Intercultural Indigenous Fashion Show, pocket edition 2025, with the theme ‘Amazonian Experience: Indigenous Clans’,” informs Rebecca Ferreira, executive director of the project. A ceremony with the awarding of certificates will be held during the event.
Rebecca reports that this year there will be an international exhibition featuring designers from MI Moda Indígena at London Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week.
Source: Cenarium Magazine
