Costanza Pascolato – Fashion Icon. A Conversation with Consuelo Blocker (Uma conversa com Consuelo Blocker)

She's considered Brazil's "Pope of Fashion," and to most people in the fashion world she is known simply as Costanza.

Costanza's parents, Gabriella and Michele Pascolato,  emigrated from Italy to Brazil in the aftermath of World War II, and in 1948 they started the Santaconstancia textile company, which became a fixture in Brazil's world of fabric and fashion.

By the age  of six, Costanza had already developed her own  sense of style. Now 81, she remains an icon of fashion and style, her signature look recognized around the world. 

Katie speaks with Costanza's daughter Consuelo, who has managed to revere her mother and find a voice of her own.

A note: This week we introduce a pair of partnerships with small-batch companies that make products we love. Visit the Our Mothers Ourselves Web site for more about that.

And while you're there, please contribute your word to the mother word cloud.

Music composed and performed by Andrea Perry.
Artwork by Paula Mangin. (@PaulaBallah)
Producer: Alice Hudson
Intern: Rosie Manock (@RosieManock)

E em Portugues:

Esta semana estamos encantados por falar com Consuelo Blocker, a filha da diva brasileira da moda, Constanza Pascolato, a quem muitos chamam a “Papa da Moda”.

A Katie e a Consuelo falam de tudo, desde a emigração da família de Itália após a 2ª Grande Guerra Mundial  e as origens do seu negócio na indústria têxtil ( tudo começou com a descoberta de um estoque de seda no final dos anos 40 !) até às “súplicas” de Consuelo para usar botas de vinil branco até ao joelho quando ainda era uma adolescente. A resposta da Mãe nesta altura foi um retundo "Não!".

Estas duas “Mulheres” têm alegria de vida para dar e vender!

Our Mothers Ourselves is an interview podcast that celebrates extraordinary mothers from all walks of life. Please share the one word that best describes your mother on the Mother Word Cloud.