City of Joy

A new collection of fabrics has been launched around the world and presented in their home countries by the women for whom these fabrics were made – the surviving women of City of Joy. of the ongoing catastrophic conflict in the DRC, which, as has been said, makes the country one of the worst places in the world for women[1].

City of Joy is a transformational leadership community for women, survivors of brutal rape and mutilation at the hands of soldiers and civilians who use women as weapons of war. Located in Bukavu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, this “shelter” allows them to overcome pain and stigma to become confident women leaders, ready to return to their communities and convey the message that power can come from pain.

During a visit to City of Joy, Gabriela Sanchez y Sanchez de la Barquera, designer for the specialist textile brand Vlisco, was invited by the women present to create prints for them that would honor the work of Dr. Denis Mukwege, surgeon and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who, with his team of doctors, physically healed them. Impressed by the strength of the women she met there, Gabriela created the City of Joy Collection, which tells the story of these women who made the journey from suffering to a place of love and hope. The words “Love”, “Respect” and “Strength”, marked on the fabrics, reflect their healing and renewal through female solidarity, love and mutual respect.

The collection is made up of five super-wax fabrics printed with vibrant, brilliant designs, in around 100 different colors, created using ancient wax printing techniques. The textile designs, which represent a journey from pain to power and from sorrow to joy, pay homage to the female form and the natural beauty of the Congo region. All profits from the sale of the collection will be donated by Vlisco to City of Joy.