ESTONIA/LATVIA: Inmates try their hand at fashion design as several prisons in Latvia and Estonia offer workshop facilities for prisoners wanting a change from the everyday routine

Record ID: 231051

  • Title: ESTONIA/LATVIA: Inmates try their hand at fashion design as several prisons in Latvia and Estonia offer workshop facilities for prisoners wanting a change from the everyday routine
  • Date: 3rd November 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Estonian) THE DIRECTOR OF COMPANY "HEAVY ECO", TOOMAS PLUNT, SAYING: "The outcome is different every time. One day we get wonderful results, and then again the next day we don't even know what should we do with the bags, because they are all a total mess. However we can see some good examples here. This particular bag is Angelina Jolie's lip, it is inspired by this one film poster and is one of the best examples." RIGA, LATVIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INMATES WORKING IN SEWING ROOM EXTERIOR OF BRASA PRISON
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Estonia, Latvia
  • City:
  • Country: Latvia Estonia
  • Topics: Crime,Arts,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAC3DI8JR7R7C9Q4T5DWE0WT26Z
  • Story Text: The inmates of Latvia's Brasa prison take a quick walk round the yard to break up the monotony of life behind bars. But in this particular prison in Riga there is also another outlet for the men to distract themselves: the sewing room.
    More than 200 prisoners in Latvia and Estonia have become fashion designers and manufacturers of various clothing and accessories, with some critical acclaim even coming their way from fashion week experts.
    Sustainable prison fashion is being made in two prisons in Latvia and one in Estonia, with inmates tailoring behind high walls and barred windows.
    "Those who come to work here, have changed something in their attitude and set some goals in their lives. In a way it's door to improvement and rehabilitation. You can also help your family. It is not idlers and pastime seekers who come here. People come to work here, and if a man works, the term passes quicker," said Oleg Djedurkov, serving an eight-year term for murder.
    The prisons have become a form of creative laboratory for inmates. Prisoners with different backgrounds and experiences come up with many new ideas. And there is not really the problem of the budding fashion designers being short on time.
    "Due to dullsville many inmates are amateur handymen. Some of them are real masters - making things out of wood and metal. The idea is theirs and performance too," said Andrey Shurin, sentenced for robbery.
    The project leader and man behind the concept is Toomas Plunt, director of the Estonian company Heavy Eco.
    There are no restrictions on the designers and tailors and inmates with different criminal records - murderers, thieves, economic offenders - can apply. The prisoners are given materials, tools and freedom of choice as to what to make and how to produce the object.
    The company has elaborated on the idea of prison design, and now offers T-shirts with a series of popular prison tattoos that apart from being a body art also have specific meanings in prison slang.
    "l'll show you an example. On this shirt we can see a Russian cathedral. The cathedral shows us how many times a person has been in prison, one tower stands for one time. So the more towers it has, the more times in prison. The text here means that "I live my life as if it was a dream." It is one of the most well-known tattoos which you can see on prisoners," Plunt said.
    All the products are made from organic and recycled material. For example, different size bags and purses are made out of old movie posters and banners.
    "The outcome is different every time. One day we get wonderful results, and then again the next day we don't even know what should we do with the bags, because they are all a total mess. However we can see some good examples here. This particular bag is Angelina Jolie's lip, it is inspired by this one film poster and is one of the best examples," Plunt added.
    Plunt says his customers have differing responses to the prison fashion.
    Men are usually enthusiastic about buying prison fashion as to them it conveys the message of danger and excitement, he says, women, in their turn, pay attention to eco-friendly materials. Some people are still sceptical about the idea of wearing clothing possibly made by a murderer.
    The company Heavy Eco donates 50 percent of the profits from the inmates' designed and tailored goods to charity.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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