Brava: A woman is capable of doing anything as long as she does it with love and dedication – Adelina Lopes

The septuagenarian, Adelina Lopes, who dedicates herself to lace, embroidery, sewing, crafts and other valences, assured today that a woman is capable of doing anything as long as she does it with love and dedication.

Dona Adelina, as she is affectionately called by everyone on Brava and by those who know her, is now 72 years old and since she was a child she has nurtured her passion for clothing and lace production, embroidery, sewing and handicrafts, which has been an “advantage” in a “less favorable period of his life”.

Inforpress went to know the story of this woman who has her pieces in every corner of the island, but also in various parts of the world, on this day that celebrates Cape Verdean Women's Day.

Born and resident in Nova Sintra, Dona Adelina said that since she was a child she lived with people who worked in these areas and with her curiosity she followed with her eyes the steps they took to handle the fabrics, needles and threads.

At the age of 14, he began to express, with practical work, the passion he had been nurturing from a very early age. And without the possibility of acquiring materials, at the time, he took advantage of some nylon bags and with this line he learned to do the matte stitch and with the few materials he could, he practiced and perfected himself little by little.

But as time went by, he grew up, formed his family. One day his house caught fire.

“With children, without a home, with nothing, it was necessary to rise from the ashes and rebuild life”, said this seamstress.

It was at this time that she began to produce panties and bras, as well as embroidery and lace to sell and win back everything she had lost in that “tragedy”.

With her commitment and dedication, she emphasized that she had succeeded and from that date onwards, she dedicated herself to everything she had the chance to learn, without neglecting what had always been her passion, lace and embroidery.

In sewing, he stressed that he has already produced pieces of all types and qualities, from panties and bras that he even exported abroad, to sets for children, trousseau, clothes for different occasions, bridal bouquets, among others.

But also, in his veins runs the blood that encourages him to craft, whether with paper or fabric, plastic or cardboard, depending on the customers' wishes.

It is in this clothing area that she happily says that she was a woman in the past, is a woman today and has always had a profession as proof that women “can and can” do anything, as long as they do it with love and dedication.

In addition, he emphasized that he has always defended that a woman has to work to earn even a little change, but that she knows that it is her sweat, that it is something conquered with her hands without depending on her husband or anyone else.

Today, at her age, to show that knowledge also has no age or boundaries, she joined the Renda Brava project, where she has been learning new techniques for producing lace, which, according to her, in more than 50 years working in this area, I had never seen anything like it.

“It's something beautiful and strange. I'm the oldest in the group and I've never seen anything like it in my life”, she said, stressing that the woman has to challenge her ability and leave her comfort zone, trying to learn whenever there are opportunities.

And, speaking of learning, he regrets the fact that he does not have the chance to pass on his legacy from generation to generation, since neither children nor grandchildren show any interest in learning, a practice that, as he assumed, is falling into disuse because the younger layer is not interested in learning lace and embroidery, much less sewing.

But Dona Adelina says that she is happy to teach and has not lost hope that someone will show up with the courage to learn and later it will be a source of pride for her to see this other person shining with what she managed to convey.

As for his work, he informed that he has already presented it in the United States of America, exhibitions in Cidade da Praia, in São Vicente, but he knows that his pieces have already traveled the world.

“As long as there is life and health, I will continue to work and present people with my work, my productions”, she concluded, reminding all women that they can and can leave their comfort zone and do everything they want, from let it be with love so that everything can work out, without forgetting that “knowledge does not take up space”.