E-Paper
Move over, Gisele! Prostitutes are here!
As Rio de Janeiro's biannual fashion show moved into high gear, a group of prostitutes strutted bright garments they designed, stealing some limelight from top models like Gisele Bundchen.
As Rio de Janeiro's biannual fashion show moved into high gear on Friday, a group of prostitutes strutted bright garments they designed, stealing some limelight from top models like Gisele Bundchen.
In an open-air show in the center of the city famous for Carnival jamborees, prostitutes from Davida - a non-governmental organization that defends the rights of sex service workers - presented their brand of clothing to cheers from hundreds of onlookers and camera flashes.
"We managed to get recognized. Our working clothes exploit sensuality and fetish," said Doroth de Castro, a self-described veteran prostitute and co-founder of Davida.
The line's brand name, Daspu, is a play on "Daslu," the name of Brazil's most expensive boutique.
Even spectators from the upscale Fashion Rio events cut away to catch the Davida show on a a purple-carpeted, narrow street in central Rio, off a square where prostitutes typically solicit customers.
"We're thin, fat, old and young. Not like those models that are all thin," de Castro said. "We have flesh that men like."
Apart from dresses designed to lure clients, the Davida group also makes casual wear for activist work, such as AIDS prevention.
It is not illegal to offer sexual services in Brazil, but pandering is a crime.
With its sun, sea, mountains and sultry lifestyle, Rio is a popular tourist destination. But prostitution is also rife, and the United Nations and other groups have expressed concern that it is growing as a magnet for foreigners seeking cheap sex, especially during Carnival, which starts on Feb. 24.
The Brazilian government launched a campaign in March to stop the sexual exploitation of minors by tourists.
Fashion Rio, where mainly Brazilian designers present their collections, has recently gained fame in the fashion world. Bundchen was a main attraction on Friday night.
