The quilombola community of Curtume is composed of settlements in remote rural areas that preserve cultural practices and ancestral traditions to this day. Among them works a group of women who transform stitches into narratives. Established in 2015 with just three members, the Bordadeiras do Curtume has grown to include 46 embroiderers in 2024. Their work features original illustrations by Diogo Guimarães, the son of one of the embroiderers. These designs depict life in the sertão—the arid, rugged interior of Minas Gerais—capturing its beauty, challenges, and resilience. The textiles, dyed with pigments made from local soil, roots, and bark, take on earthy tones.
Inspired by traditional flags from religious festivals such as Folia de Reis and Festa do Rosário, the embroidery of the women of this collective carries a cultural legacy rooted in symbolism and community. The group is part of a programme called Women of Jequitinhonha, which is run by Tingui, a nonprofit organisation supporting rural and quilombola women through cultural preservation. Through their collective effort, the Bordadeiras do Curtume uphold their identity and traditions, demonstrating how craft can reflect and sustain a way of life.
Bordadeiras do Curtume
