The following has been sent to us by St. Augustine's Centre to promote their fashion project 'Sewing Hope', which was jointly funded by CultureDale and Creative Minds. For more information, please visit their website by clicking here.

We’re delighted to share V's powerful story, one of 12 participants in our Fashion Project: A Stitch Overseas. Hailing from Nicaragua, what began as initial ambivalence about getting involved in the project, turned into a tale of re-building dignity and identity for V: 'I wake up feeling proud, like the volcanic eruption embroidered on my shirt!'

SEWING HOPE

Life is unpredictable, much like nature itself. Often, we live assuming that tomorrow will come just as today, that we'll wake up in the same place where we were born, grew up, and loved. We forget that life is neither constant nor permanent, but rather an ongoing journey of progress and change.

From the moment we are born, we are given an identity that we are unaware of until the day we lose it, the nationality. It is that deep pride and love for your culture, your people, your traditions, your rhythm, your food, your religion, your climate. This love, forged from birth, stays with you until your last days. It is the fire that keeps your spirit alive, even in your most vulnerable moments, pushing you to rise again and move forward.

Migration is an act of survival and sacrifice so profound that I can only compare it to the pain of losing a loved one and the joy of bringing life into the world.

From my experience, the pain of being forced to leave your country is overwhelming, often driving you to the brink of madness. Even when surrounded by family, you can feel utterly alone and empty. It's a feeling I still cannot fully put into words. At times, there's an inexplicable sense of shame and guilt, like a stigma, simply for being a migrant.

During this process, by fate or chance, I arrived at the St Augustine's Centre where, like many others, they have helped me a lot. The emotional support they have given me has been fundamental to finding comfort and trusting in myself again. I found a refuge and understanding where I did not need to speak to justify my existence, where with affable brow they calmed the internal interrogation that consumed me, my sobs and my laments. And being part of the fashion project reminded me that beyond what I lost, I have a lot to gain and give again.

The faces of the other members of the group were like mirrors, reflecting love and empathy. Different stories, languages, abilities, colours, and sizes- and yet, we were all the same. I never imagined seeing myself as equal to anyone else, but I now believe that this is how the God who created everything must see us and love us.

I shared space and activities with wonderful people who beyond being from one country or another, are mothers, sons, daughters, professionals, artists, unique and essential talents to achieve the success that we created together, where we managed to create a bond of empathy and harmonious union.

Africa, Asia, America and Europe became as united as the entire earth once was. We broke barriers of language and physical abilities, we were a Pangea of gifts, stories and sacrifices that managed to create designs, smiles and new experiences but above all, we sewed hope.

Thank you to Sarah, Eve, Vic, Sally, Duncan, Phil, Heather and Adrian, for helping us create a new voice, a new dream, a new image, a new self, a new family. Thank you for teaching us that we are beautiful and valuable, thank you for helping us rebuild our human dignity.

'There is no better designer than nature.' - Alexander McQueen.

To read words written by each individual involved in the fashion project, and the story behind their garments, click here.

The fashion project was possible thanks to Sally Stone, Duncan Burnett, Sabbah Rashidi, Mani, Vic Cruz, Phil McGinley, Eve Wagster, Sara Robinson, Jake Clarke, Heather Wilson, Matt and Janine Radcliffe, Brett and Rebekah from the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Culturedale, and Creative Minds NHS.

You can watch 3 minutes of glimpses of the fashion show below:

Film created by Matt Radcliffe Photo and Film.

Please note: this blog post is a reproduction of content owned by St. Augustine's Centre to aid with promotion. All credit and right goes to the author.