Stories from Creaciones Miquelina

Our long-term ethical manufacturing partnership with Creaciones Miquelina in Bogotá, Colombia, has provided training and employment for vulnerable women at risk of prostitution and drugs since 1992. We are extremely proud that all garments manufactured at Miquelina (85% of our annual production, including all our Nikwax Analogy waterproof garments) carry the World Fair Trade Organization Fair Trade label.

Here, we share the stories of Magda and Viviana, two women whose lives have changed thanks to Creaciones Miquelina, its partnership with Páramo, and our new Employee-Owned Trust.

“I joined Miquelina 23 years ago during a very difficult period of my life, and I was also pregnant. The nuns gave me the opportunity to learn how to use a sewing machine and I became part of a real family (my husband never helped me). It is the best thing that could have happened to me. I had more children and was able to continue working in a stable job; Miquelina was a great support and I could move my family forward. I was also able to study and finish high school.

When we were informed of the move to an Employee-Owned Trust, we had great expectations – especially financially – and hoped we would be able to improve our quality of life further. For many years I have only been able to afford the basics; I hope (and not only me but also my colleagues) to be able to improve my earnings and to continue feeling motivated to work. I am encouraged by the fact that we can really be involved in the company and help to make decisions. We are committed women with a fighting spirit who have overcome the adversities in our lives; I am confident that everything that has happened within the company is for the common good.”
Magda Lasso, Labour Operator

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“My name is Viviana Montenegro and I have been working at Creaciones Miquelina for 9 years now. I arrived by chance – I saw a sign, I entered the building and took advice from the nuns there. I made the decision to train in something for my princesses (I have two young daughters). Before, I had to leave my girls at home on their own whilst I was out on the streets.

I shared my story in the training center and started hearing stories from other women that were worse than my own. The nuns helped us all by introducing us to psychologists and social workers – we were like a family, everyone cared about one another. Getting up early was hard and, at first, it was all very difficult for me; I didn’t know anything about anything as I hadn’t even finished primary school. But that is how I started at Miquelina!

I always dreamed about having a house of my own and I would laugh just thinking about it since it felt unreachable. However, I began to save and after three attempts I finally managed to buy my “casita”. It is in a distant but good area.

Arriving at Miquelina has changed my life and I can now talk to my daughters with pride and without rudeness, because I was always tired before from being on the streets at night. I am proud to be a dignified woman with a decent job and for my girls to see me at home as their mother, whereas before they rarely saw me.

The past 9 years have made me a better person whereas before, I felt like a woman from the streets without meaning. I have now studied and graduated from high school and have also been able to bring my sisters to Miquelina. They too worked on the streets, and it was very satisfying to be able to help them, even though we still have sisterly problems! I am very happy to see them working here.

The move to an Employee-Owned Trust has been very big with many expectations – to improve my family’s way of life and to finish paying off my house and my debts. I am also in a better position to help pay for my daughters to study and go to university. Above all, now that Miquelina is part of a trust, many women who really need help will receive it.”
Viviana Montenegro, Flat Machine Operator

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