#MCCOTInterview {45}
Isabella Leonetti, the Brazilian Architect who uses her long-lasting passion for embroidery to empower and inspire other women in need
This last decade, there has been a lot of talk about Women's empowerment. Although it is clearly still a long work in progress, it is beautiful and comforting to notice that, around the world, more and more women are supporting, helping and inspiring each other. Mindful, committed and heartful women who are using their privileges, knowledge, influence, network and community to make a difference. To change the world in a better and fairer place. Giving back all they can to improve the life of other women less fortunate, in financial need or facing some mental or physical health issues. As talented and skilled São Paulo-based architect Isabella Leonetti who had a kind of calling in May 2023, during a trip in France after visiting a Parisian exhibition dedicated to embroidery and then the sanctuary of Thérèse of Lisieux. This exact day, she realized that life had new plans for her. Unexpectedly, her long-lasting passion for embroidery would indeed become a big part of her future. Back home in Brazil, Isabella embarked on this new journey of hers and established the non-profit organization 'Movimento Transbordar' with the purpose of transforming other women's lives. Teaching them a new profession and offering them the opportunity to earn their own money and get back their dignity and financial independence. Involving in special creative projects other female founders and entrepreneurs as her long-time girlfriend Sylvie Quartara, the French-Brazilian Artisan, founder of the sustainable brand Sy&Vie (Yes to Life) and new Ambassador of the Nature-à-Porter who celebrates the beauty of Mother Earth through the creation of unique and arty handcrafted clutches, real pieces of Art. Let's meet a very generous and passionate human being. A proud and bold woman, mum and wife on a mission who has opened a true change-maker, a welcoming atelier/shelter where women can improve their condition and feel safe, seen and heard. A training ground to start fresh. An happy female role model and genuine Women's rights activist and advocate who does her best every single day to do good and bring joy again in other women's lives.
By Hélène Battaglia
Who are
you?
I am Isabella Leonetti, a 52-year-old Sagittarius, architect, married to my
first boyfriend, and mother of two wonderful children, an engineer, and a
lawyer and two dogs. Since I was a child, I have been intrigued about anything
handmade, but especially embroidery, which I discovered at the age of 16. I
love spending time with friends, enjoying delicious food, and savoring sunny
days.
What background led you to become a female empowerment advocate and activist?
I have always been surrounded by family members and close friends who dedicated
themselves to helping others, which was a constant source of inspiration. My
mother participated in several programs focused on this in the 1960s, and
later, I closely followed the founding of the Credipaz Institute, created by my
sister-in-law Lorian, which offers microcredit to women. I always had the
desire to do good, but for a long time, I didn’t know exactly how to start.
When and
why did you come up with the idea of starting a non-governmental organization?
This is a curious story because I had always had the desire to collaborate,
listen, and be close to people in vulnerable situations. However, after going
through an intense episode of COVID-19, with days of hospitalization and many
uncertainties, something changed more deeply in my heart. That’s when I
returned to embroidery, not knowing at the time that it helps produce dopamine,
which directly affects the brain, promoting well-being, focus, and balance — as
various studies have proven. In May 2023, during
a trip to Paris, I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition 'SUR LE FIL
DE DAKAR À PARIS' at le19M (home to L’École Lesage and several renowned
embroidery ateliers in France), where I saw an embroidered map of the city of
Paris. In that moment, everything made sense: embroidery as a form of
micro-architecture, with a clear purpose. I felt my life would change. After
leaving that exhibition, I was sure I needed to do something related to
embroidery to transform women's lives. As fate would have
it, three days later, I went to Lisieux, to the Sanctuary of Saint Thérèse, to
give thanks for the second chance I received after COVID-19. During the visit,
due to what I believe was a providential “mistake,” I ended up at the Carmelo,
where I saw the embroidery basket and the works made by Saint Thérèse and the
Carmelites. At that moment, I was even more certain that I would return to
Brazil with a new mission.
Are there special women who inspire you to
embrace this amazing journey of yours?
The woman who inspires me the most is undoubtedly Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
Despite dying young, she was determined to do good, promising to shower the
world with a "rain of roses" as a sign of her grace. When I was
younger, I used to wonder how people discovered their calling to do something
special. Today, I feel blessed to have that clarity in my heart and to know
that embroidery is a path of transformation.
What exactly is 'Movimento Transbordar'
about?
Movimento Transbordar is a non-profit organization focused on transforming
women’s lives through embroidery. We teach women how to embroider, empowering
them to create and sell their products. Beyond embroidery techniques, we teach
them how to design patterns and price their work. We also develop special
projects for brands like Sy&Vie, Le Soleil d'Été, and Isabella Suplicy and
the women who have completed our courses are paid to produce the pieces.
Currently, we are embroidering a series of t-shirts inspired by the Brazilian
artist Leonilson for MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art), which is an incredible
honor for us. In this structure, the embroiderers go through a comprehensive training process, learning each step and every detail necessary to create high-quality products. Our focus is always on benefiting the women, offering them an opportunity for transformation and fostering unity. It’s important to note that before teaching embroidery, we conduct an initial welcoming process to ensure everyone feels integrated and supported.
By the way, why did you call it this way?
At the inception of our organization, we had the opportunity to work with DeaDesign, a renowned branding company. After several meetings and discussions,
the name Movimento Transbordar emerged as a name that represents us very well,
with intertwined hearts symbolizing the warmth, unity, and power of
transformation.
What is the
latter concretely providing to the women involved?
The women in Movimento Transbordar are being trained not only in embroidery but
also in other artisanal techniques such as knitting and crocheting, although
embroidery remains the main focus. They have been able to generate income both
through the projects created by us and independently, as everything taught can
be directly applied to their own initiatives.
Who are the
members of your community?
When we started, I imagined we would welcome women from various age groups.
However, we noticed that most participants are over 50 years old, many seeking
to re-enter the workforce, overcome difficulties, or even start their first
job. We welcome them with open arms, confident that they can develop a
profession and earn the resources they need to move forward.
In addition
to being the proud founder, what are you also in charge of?
I’ve had incredible support for this project, with a fantastic board and
advisors who make all the difference. As a result, I am currently very involved
in the creative process and in preparing prototypes for clients, as well as
coordinating orders and projects. We have wonderful volunteers who also help
with the training process, which I also remain closely involved with.
What is a typical day at Movimento
Transbordar?
At Movimento Transbordar, the day usually starts with coffee, cake, warm
welcomes, and lots of hugs. We begin the day embroidering, sharing ideas,
venting, and of course, embroidering some more. We take a break, reconnect, and
share life moments, then return to embroidery. Some women attend classes once a
week, while others, who are more advanced, come twice a week. Presently, we
have embroiderers who started at Movimento Transbordar and now assist us in the
classes. We hold classes three days a week and dedicate one or two days for
handling and distributing orders and projects.
What are
the main difficulties you are coping with?
I believe the biggest challenge is getting the embroiderers to believe in
themselves and ensuring that hand embroidery is properly valued. We know that
many embroideries today can be done by machine, but the intricate detail of
hand embroidery, and the personal transformation behind it, cannot be
replicated by a machine. Not all companies are willing to sacrifice a small
part of their profit to support this kind of transformation.
How did you
meet Sylvie Quartara, founder of Sy&Vie?
Sylvie is a very dear and close friend of mine since adolescence. I had the
honor, as an architect, of being part of the project for her store, which I am
very proud of. Sylvie’s career has always been focused on highlighting handmade
art in unique products, showcasing the work of artists from the beginning of
the production process.
In what way
is 'Movimento Transbordar' involved in the production process of Sy&Vie’s
collections?
We have been involved since the first sketches Sylvie brought to us, when she
presented some ideas, and we started developing prototypes with different
stitches and samples. With great determination, we were eager to see this
opportunity move forward. Today, we have pieces like "Daisy" and our
"Sunflower," which always bring light and perfectly represent the
partnership with Sy&Vie.
How is
supporting women personally important to you?
We know that everything begins in the womb of a mother. In the end, women are
always at the start of everything, yet they are often overlooked in terms of
their importance, value, strength, and, at the same time, fragility. Working
with women is a privilege because, despite all adversities, they are always
like lionesses, defending their families and striving for the best, not only
for themselves but also for their communities.
As a
committed woman on a mission, what do you think could be done in your country
to improve women’s cause and rights?
Brazil has made progress in strengthening women's rights, but I believe that
policies protecting women during and after pregnancy, as well as equal pay and
opportunities, are extremely important. Additionally, there must be stricter
penalties for any form of violence against women, whether physical,
psychological, or moral. These laws already exist but need to be properly
enforced.
Even though you are clearly already making a difference with your NGO, what goals are you aiming to reach in the future?
Our main goal is to expand Movimento Transbordar to other communities and
regions, both in São Paulo and throughout Brazil—and why not to other
countries? We want the group to gain strength, and we want more women to have
the opportunity to embroider wherever they are, benefiting from the positive
impact embroidery has on their health, quality of life, and, of course, their
financial transformation.
A message
to the world, especially to women.
If each woman extends her hand to lift another, together we will grow stronger.
A simple act of kindness, a listening ear, or a heartfelt conversation can
create ripples of change far greater than we often imagine. Our true power lies
in our ability to support, uplift, and inspire one another. Together, we are unstoppable.
All the pictures are Courtesy of Sy&Vie and Movimento TRANSBORDAR
In Partnership with
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