MILAN — Ahead of International Women’s Day, Prada Group and UNFPA are renewing their partnership for 2025, again focusing on Mexico.
The Italian fashion group and the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, are expanding their fashion training program in Mexico after a first initiative was unveiled last year, following a previous tie-up in Ghana and Kenya kicked off in 2022.
The program, “Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears” conceived to foster social change through fashion as a catalyst to promote women’s empowerment, sexual reproductive health, and contrast gender-based violence, is enrolling 46 women artisans in 2025.
Hailing from the state of Querétaro, the group includes 26 artisans who completed the first training in last year’s program and 20 new women aged 25 to 28 with experience in craftsmanship and embroidery who were selected by the program veterans. The latter will take on mentorship roles in 2025 for a peer-to-peer learning approach.
“We are honored to partner with UNFPA for the third consecutive year to bring this cultural program to life, where fashion serves as a vehicle for hope, independence, and empowerment — both for individuals and their communities,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group head of corporate social responsibility.
Women artisans enrolled in the Prada Group and UNFPA training program in Mexico.
Courtesy of Prada Group
The 11-month program, running from April through February 2026, comprises training sessions and workshops split across two phases, providing the roster of 46 Mexican artisans with fashion technical and creative skills, focusing on the preservation of traditional crafts and sustainability. Culminating in the creation of a fashion collection, the program will also include lessons on business development and financial management, in addition to gender equality, human rights, prevention of gender-based violence, as well as sexual and reproductive rights.
For the first time in the history of the tieup between Prada Group and UNFPA, the 2025 initiative will allow employees of the Italian luxury company to directly engage with program participants, the group said.
“Women are the backbone of the fashion and garment industry. The Fashion Expressions program, a collaboration between UNFPA and the Prada Group, acknowledges this vital role and strives to enhance economic opportunities for women artisans,” said Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA private sector and civil society branch chief. “Additionally, it teaches them about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, empowering them to achieve greater economic independence and their overall health, safety and well-being.”
A woman artisan enrolled in the Prada Group and UNFPA training program in Mexico.
Courtesy of Prada Group
The initiative builds on a three-year relationship between Prada Group and UNFPA, in an effort to use fashion for purpose over just profit.
