Best of Brazil CIC

Project Summary

500 years of Indigenous Brazilian Fashion: A Journey of Evolution and Cultural Expression.

Heritage Focus

To explore the heritage of traditional textiles, clothing and costumes of indigenous peoples in Brazil over the past 500 years, with a specific focus showcasing this evolution to new generations of Brazilians born in the UK.

Project Description

This project:

explored how traditional garments and textiles from Brazil’s indigenous communities have evolved over the past five centuries of colonization, displacement and cultural assimilation.

Collected and made seven indigenous outfits from tree trunk bark, leaves, raw cotton and handwoven fabrics to be valued as symbols of identity and cultural pride amongst the new generations of Brazilians born in the UK.

Spotlight Story: Cultural Memory, Identity G Belonging

This project connected fashion, storytelling, and heritage by exploring the Brazilian cultural memory embedded in traditional attire and the evolving meanings of clothing across generations.

The group involved community participants in conversations around identity, migration, and ancestral influence.

The showcase focused on everyday heritage: items passed down or adapted, the symbolism of fabric, and the importance of maintaining pride in heritage through fashion.

Participants spoke about their parents’ and grandparents’ clothing choices and how these influenced their own sense of self. One young participant reflected: “My mum would sew carnival outfits — I used to hate them as a kid. Now I see them as symbols of strength. She stitched our story into every seam.”

Watch it here if the video above is not playing.

Workshop Highlights

Storytelling circles created intergenerational dialogue between elders and young people, focusing on the role of fashion in memory and cultural identity.

Participants shared garments ranging from carnival-inspired wear to Indigenous-influenced patterns and hand-crafted accessories.

Discussions highlighted the impact of colonisation on Brazilian Indigenous dress and how communities are reclaiming pride and heritage through contemporary creative expression.

Impact

The project strengthened intergenerational bonds, gave younger participants tools to explore their roots creatively, and encouraged broader reflection on the diasporic experience. It also laid groundwork for future cultural programmes in the UK-Brazilian community.

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