Lifestyle
The tailors who dressed the pope: Dolly Craft Sewing Project
Pope Francis delivered a speech during yesterday’s Mass in Kenya, wearing a unique #MadeinKenya robe, specially made for him by Nairobi based Dolly Craft Sewing Project. The project made two chasubles for the pope and more than 2,600 garments for the priests, bishops and other religious officials
Published
9 years agoon

Pope Francis who arrived in Kenya on Wednesday, his first stop on a three-nation tour on his first visit to Africa yesterday delivered a message of peace, love and reconciliation, wearing a specially made robe, designed and tailored by Dolly Craft Sewing Project.
Prior to the historical visit, to ensure the pope would be properly dressed during his visit, the “Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops asked the Dolly Craft Sewing Project in the Nairobi slum of Kangemi to make the pope’s vestments,” the Voice of America reported.

Alice Ngundi, 45, irons one of three robes made for Pope Francis to wear during his visit to Kenya, sewn by the Dolly Craft Sewing Project and Women’s Group in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The pope wore a robe embroidered to resemble beads which are worn by the Maasai people. The robes and adornments were the work of Dolly Craft Sewing Project, from the Nairobi slum of Kangemi.
According to the Voice of America, about 30 men and women tailored the majority of the garments for the priests, bishops and other religious officials attending papal functions in Kenya – more than 2,600 pieces of clothing in all.

Supervisor Mary Njue, 50, displays three robes made for Pope Francis to wear during his visit to Kenya, sewn by the Dolly Craft Sewing Project and Women’s Group in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The stitching, embroidering and ironing reportedly took about 14 hours a day, 6 days a week, since the beginning of October.
The tailors will surely be proud of dressing Pope Francis who said before the visit, “Let’s hope this trip brings better fruit, both spiritual and material”.

Supervisor Mary Njue, 50, displays three robes made for Pope Francis to wear during his visit to Kenya, sewn by the Dolly Craft Sewing Project and Women’s Group in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Source: Voice of America
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