Fashion, an escape for female inmates in Italy

Reuters: Four women prisoners turned designers from Venice had their work showcased at the launch of ethical fashion brand About A Worker's second collection on Thursday (March 7) in Paris. Anna, Maja, Mihaela and Cin, inmates of the Giudecca prison in Venice serving a range of sentences from four to fifteen years, created clothes inspired by their experiences and mood. Co-founder and Creative Director, Kim Hou, said the collaboration was intended to be therapeutic for the prisoners. The dresses are inspired by the traditional Burano lacemaker's outfit, the traditional woman workers outfit in the Venetian region, and embellished with touches personal to each prisoner. Cin chose to represent her alter ego of a grumpy monster, whilst Maja used her skirt to represent the hope behind bars in prison. The blouses produced in a limited number, will cost around 150 euros said the co-founder of the brand About A Worker. The clothes designed by the prisoners were worn by four actresses on Thursday, (March 7), who presented the outfits in an acapella operatic performance which included words spoken by the workers.