Coostafe presents collaborative collection in the fashion show "Amazon Resistance" at COP30
Pieces produced by 22 women deprived of liberty gain visibility at the Pará Pavilion, focusing on sustainability and social reintegration
The Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Culture (Secult), promotes this Tuesday (11), at 4 PM, at the Pará Pavilion – Green Zone, the fashion show "Amazon Resistance: a moving fashion show", during the programming of the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), in Belém. The event features the presentation of the Ya Temi Xoa collection – I am still alive, developed collaboratively between designer Dan Delacosta and 22 women from the Social Work Cooperative of Entrepreneurial Women (Coostafe), formed by inmates of the Pará prison system.
With curation by Secult and support from the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (Seap), the initiative brings together different artistic and social expressions in a fashion-show spectacle that seeks to give visibility to stories of overcoming, dignity, and reconnection with life. The collection features 30 costumes created in workshops led by designer Alcimara Braga, with the participation of young people from the Territories for Peace (TerPaz) program, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Daniel Araújo, project coordinator, explains that the fashion show represents a union between art, fashion, and social inclusion. "We are very happy with the result of this collection, which is the result of a partnership between several institutions. It promotes inclusion through art, culture, and the creative economy. Seap has been a historical partner of Secult, including in the making of costumes for the Opera Festival at Theatro da Paz," he highlighted.
Social reintegration as a central axis
Founded in 2014, Coostafe is a cooperative that uses fashion as a tool for social reintegration. Over the years, more than 300 women have participated in productive activities. The fashion show at COP30 is the culmination of the work developed by 22 cooperatives, who designed and created pieces from reused materials, many donated to the institution.
The head of Seap, Colonel QOPM Marco Antonio Sirotheau Corrêa Rodrigues, emphasized the symbolic and practical value of this participation at COP30.
"The work of Coostafe is a concrete example of successful social reintegration, which unites sustainability and professional training. Showing this to the world reinforces the importance of public policies that believe in human potential and the power of work as a path to rebuilding lives," said the secretary.
Valuing women's work
Renata Carvalho, production coordinator at Seap, shares that since signing the participation agreement for the event, the routine at the cooperative has intensified, with significant involvement from the inmates:
"It has been quite intense and required a lot of effort from the entire team. Each piece created carries a story, a learning experience, and the commitment of those who believe in the transformative power of social reintegration," she emphasized.
The tutor of Coostafe, Narayana Brotas, shares the same vision. "Seeing women who were once deprived of liberty now occupying spaces of prominence, showcasing their creations, and engaging with the world about sustainability and dignity is something profoundly transformative," she assessed.
"The collection seeks to translate, through sustainable fashion, the beauty that springs from healing and freedom. More than just clothes, we carry stories: of women who, with their hands, stitch together a future and hope," she added.
Collection "Ya Temi Xoa": a second chance in the form of art
The name of the collection - Ya Temi Xoa - means "I am still alive". For Renata Carvalho, the title reflects the essence of the proposal. "Everyone has the right to a second chance. Even after mistakes, these women are seizing the opportunity to learn, reinvent themselves, and build a new path, seeking knowledge as a way to restart with dignity and purpose," she stated.
The collection is marked by the absence of standard sizing and the appreciation of Amazonian ancestry, inspired by elements of the forest and indigenous culture. Designer Dan Delacosta highlights the creative process as symbolic and respectful.
"Coostafe is a model of dignity, recovery of self-esteem, of returning through learning and art. These pieces represent dignified coexistence while serving sentences and show the world that it is possible to change realities," he said.
"My personal feeling with this contact is to learn, more than to teach, and to see hope for a better world for everyone," he concluded.
Institutional recognition and continuity
Belchior Machado, director of Labor and Production at Seap, reiterated that the secretariat has invested in the qualification of the cooperatives, with structuring actions. "Last year we already renovated the productive space and formed partnerships like CredCidadão for credit release. The project shows concrete results in income generation, training, and, mainly, in the social reintegration of people deprived of liberty," he noted. He added: "The fashion show of Coostafe cooperatives shows that, with opportunity, training, and respect, it is possible to rebuild stories and open new paths. More than a presentation of sustainable fashion, this moment represents dignity, overcoming, and hope."
Partnerships that transform
Coordinator Renata Carvalho also emphasized the value of partnerships with designers and institutions. "Each partnership represents an opportunity for growth and appreciation of their talent. SEAP plays an essential role in this process, providing support for Coostafe to continue developing and showing the world the transformative potential of this collective work," she concluded.
Service:
Event: Fashion show "Amazon Resistance" – Participation of Coostafe/Seap
Collection: Ya Temi Xoa – I am still alive
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 4 PM
Location: Pará Pavilion – Green Zone, Parque das Cidades (entrance via Avenida Senador Lemos)
