From Unemployed to Sewing School Owner

How did Agnes Martins turn unemployment into a sewing business?

Agnes Martins had no sewing experience and very little money when she lost her job. She spent R$600 on a sewing machine, taught herself the craft and eventually built Agnes Rasta — a São Paulo atelier that combines classes, a materials shop and an online community for women who want to earn income through fashion.

What pushed her from student to teacher?

Martins enrolled in sewing courses to learn the basics. Her progress was so noticeable that instructors asked her to help classmates, and she quickly discovered a new calling: teaching. Today she designs original garments and personally follows each student's development at her own pace. A four-class package at Agnes Rasta costs around R$377.

How did discrimination become motivation?

During one course, a teacher told Martins she would never be able to afford an electronic sewing machine. Rather than being discouraged, she used the comment as fuel. Agnes Rasta now operates with six electronic machines. "I learned I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I need to prove to myself that I'm not what people think," she says.

What does the atelier offer today?

The business has grown well beyond sewing lessons. Agnes Rasta also functions as a specialist shop for beginners and craft makers, with a focus on helping customers buy only what they need and avoid waste. Online courses have expanded her reach to students across multiple Brazilian states and even other countries. Martins has built a community of more than 20,000 Instagram followers.

What is her bigger goal?

Despite early financial hardship and the prejudice she faced, Martins is focused on widening access to female entrepreneurship, using sewing as an accessible entry point for women looking to generate their own income.