London Through The Beautiful Lens of Design LDF25, Material Matters Fair, 2025

Force of The invisible by Simone Camelo

If you were looking to be at one with nature, literally, The Force of the Invisible, by Simone Camelo, inspired by the silent power of nature, explored nature in a way unseen. Simone undertook an artistic and spiritual journey to muse on vibrancies which were only felt but never seen.

With dresses made from recycled materials such as dried leaves and natural wastes (don’t worry, the good kind), the Brazilian artist used these goods as symbols for the elements of life: water, fire, air and earth.

Uniting nature, art and fashion. Garments weren’t just beautiful dresses, but a homage to the invisible forces unseen to man. Forces that keep us, with the rustling of the leaves and the shine from the waste materials. Camelo got us to see the beauty in what is deemed as rejected in society.

Inspired by the Delftware Kilns streaming alongside the Thames. The Family Friendly Paint your own replica Delftware tile in Bankside made people feel like a part of history.

The event recreated the popular Delftware designs on glazed tiles, each bringing its own personal twist. Leaving viewers with sentimental pieces made to dress homes. Those involved were immersed in history..

© 2025 Cent Magazine

Borough Yards

To whom it may concern,

Simone Camelo (Cultural Researcher and visual artist) who operated and exhibited ‘The power of the Invisible’ – an artistic and spiritual journey that invites the audience to reflect on what cannot be seen, yet transforms the world. Inspired by the silent power of nature and the ancestral wisdom of Brazilian craftsmen, the show presents a collection of six sculptural dresses made exclusively from repurposed materials, urban waste, and natural elements such as dried leaves. During the ‘London Design Festival 2025’ which took place here at Borough Yards between the dates 13ᵗʰ September 2025 – 21ˢᵗ September 2025.

Simone, a real pleasure to work alongside, the rapport and professional relationship cultivated will undoubtably be missed and one to be replicated. Although this reference may be abridged, rest assured Simone Camelo is an archetypal example of a true artist and events professional, whom will be an asset to any event or festival.

All future recognition and accomplishments will be well deserved and I have no doubt in Simone’s rewarding future endeavours.

Kind regards,

Team
Borough Yards

Dear Friends of the
Nossa Senhora do Carmo Community
London, 28/06/25

I want to share with you a very special moment in my life. This is truly important, and I
couldn’t keep it to myself—after all, everything began at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Community. I am incredibly proud of this place and of my journey.
From the age of three, under the guidance of Sister Daria, I learned to love, to share, and to
care for others, especially the elderly and those in need. Reflecting on this now, it seems
intentional and conscious, but it wasn’t. It’s only as I write to you that I can fully recognize
those moments. Everything I did was guided by intuition, although I only became aware of
what “intuition” truly meant a few years ago.
I lived in the community until I was 21, when I got married. Though I became somewhat
distant from the community, it always remained alive in my heart. I continued my path, not
within the Church, but always close to those in need. By God’s grace, I had the opportunity
to live in a privileged location, near beloved Carapicuíba, where I made many friends and
carried out numerous social projects—most of them independently, simply acting on what
God placed in my heart. In simple terms, I brought my “crazy” ideas to life—and there were many!
During the pandemic, I dedicated two full years to helping those in need. I collected clothes,
shoes, and furniture, and started two small educational projects. One involved gathering
broken computers, repairing them, and donating them to children in Carapicuíba who were
without access to school. We distributed more than 70 computers. The second project
involved collecting old sewing machines, repairing them, and giving them to unemployed
mothers willing to learn a new skill. Surprisingly, many of these machines were found in
junkyards, and through sheer intuition, I would go directly to where they were. We repaired and donated 11 sewing machines.
You may be wondering—who paid for all this? It wasn’t me! I learned how to sew fabric
masks during the pandemic. Even before the authorities announced on television that fabric masks were acceptable, I was already distributing them to my neighbors. Sewing became a hobby, and my creations—often emotional for me—helped fund the repairs for the computers and sewing machines. God placed the right people and resources in my path. During this time, I also learned to pray. Desperate over the pandemic and so many lives lost,I got on my knees and asked God to give me wisdom and clarity to inspire those with resources in the region to help the less fortunate. I knew my family and I would be okay, but what about my struggling brothers and sisters?
I turned to the internet, reading international news even before it reached Brazilian media. I
realized I could help shape a humanitarian movement that was sure to emerge—and it did.
So much of what I had learned with Sister Daria through years of catechism only made
sense when I lived through acts of charity. It was a beautiful and enriching experience. I felt
so close to our Creator and could sense His presence in every emotion and detail. Even the dolls I collected, cleaned, and dressed seemed to carry love in their expressions. I often shared these moments with friends on Facebook.
It was during those moments, while speaking to God in my garden through the plants, that I told Him I wanted to work with this pure energy I was experiencing. That’s when I realized I could find the same emotion and feeling in handicrafts. Reflecting now, I see that I was born out of educational crafts—thanks to the “Educational Center” created by Sister Daria at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Community. Life does come full circle, doesn’t it? As I write, I’m taken back to the beginning. Everything is connected—our lives are continuous lines. There is no past, present, or future—just one
continuous thread. But that’s a conversation for another time.
During that period, I lived the truth of the Bible verse:
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
And what truth is that? Love, emotion, and feeling that truly matter. I found that love through charity, and I wanted to incorporate it into my work as well.
For the past seven years, I’ve been working toward the idea of dedicating myself to Brazilian handicrafts. Nothing was meticulously planned—everything came through intuition and in God’s time. In 2022, I set out to explore my own country and learn about its rich handicraft traditions. I visited the ceramics of Cunha, the soapstone artisans of Ouro Preto, the pottery of Vale do Jequitinhonha, street art in Arraial d’Ajuda (BA), indigenous art in Trancoso, the diversity of crafts in Olinda, clay sculptures in João Pessoa, and the colorful lacework of Maceió. I also attended international craft fairs in Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza.
In 2023, I went to Portugal with the same goal. I visited the International Craft Fair in Lisbon
and many local markets in the surrounding cities, including the charming town of Barcelos,
home to renowned Portuguese ceramic artists. I was honored to attend a meeting at the
Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and another with the president of the World Trade
Center in Lisbon, both aimed at promoting Brazilian handicrafts.
Six months after returning to Brazil, the idea of working with Brazilian crafts remained
strong, though I still wasn’t sure how it would all come together. Despite my growing trust in intuition, I was anxious, trying to control everything. I needed to trust God more and let Him act, in His own time and way.
In January 2024, I remembered my childhood dream: to study English and live abroad. So
that’s what I did. I rented out my apartment—it only took three days—and with no place to
stay, I knew it was time to go.
You’re probably asking: “But Simone, do you work? Did you win the lottery?” Yes, I work! God takes care of everything. I run an online curtain store that’s been operating since before the pandemic. I serve my clients through calls and video chats, while my team provides on-site support.
After a year and a half living in Ireland, I realized that learning English isn’t as easy as just
being surrounded by native speakers. It takes much more. Each person has their
challenges. I, for instance, have dyslexia, a learning difficulty. I struggle with memory
retention. For a dyslexic mind, information doesn’t follow a mapped path—it needs to carve its way. On top of that, you’re adjusting to a new culture, dealing with emotional baggage
and childhood traumas that, back home, we tend to ignore. But when living abroad, there’s
no comfort zone—you’re forced to face yourself.
After 18 months, I now feel healed, at peace, and more in tune with God’s timing, and I am
no longer anxious.
Still following my intuition, with no concrete plans—because God is in control—I traveled
to London for what was meant to be a six-day trip. My goal: to visit the fashion markets and
promote Brazilian handicrafts. I wanted to be the voice of Brazilian artisan women. But when I visited London’s luxury department stores, I realized the scale of this market was unlike anything I had seen before. I felt I needed to stay here through the end of the year.
So, what’s next, Simone? I didn’t know exactly. I just knew it was time to begin the next
phase—here in London. I rented a room without knowing what would come next. But after
prayer and meditation, I felt led to attend fashion and sustainability events in the region.
At the first event—a secondhand luxury fashion fair—I gathered the courage to attend, still
unsure of my English. I saw a man interviewing a vendor and, once he finished, I asked,
“Excuse me, are you with the press?” He replied, “Yes. Do you want to be filmed? What’s
your stand?” I answered, “I don’t have a stand. I’m just visiting, but I brought a sample of
Brazilian handmade jewelry to share. I want to talk about Brazil’s sustainable artisans—
women who create art from natural materials, without generating waste, with a deep
respect for the environment.” I showed him a small sample of bio-jewelry made from golden grass. These handmade pieces use seeds, fish scales, leaves, wood—natural treasures our country is blessed with.
He immediately said, “Let’s film! This is great—we must record it.” I was still nervous about
my English, but he encouraged me: “Your English is fine—just speak from the heart.” So, we found a stand with light-colored clothes for me to stand in front of, and I shared my story.
At the end, visibly emotional, I thanked him. He asked, “What are you feeling right now?” I
replied, “So much emotion. I’ve been working on this project for seven years. I’ve traveled
across Brazil, lived in Portugal, studied English in Ireland—all so I could become the voice
of Brazilian artisan women. And now, I’ve just arrived in London to fulfill this mission. Thank
you so much!”
My friends, this is my mission: to share the beauty and wisdom of Brazilian artisans with the
world. I now understand that I’m in the middle of that mission. I’ll be here until December
before returning to Brazil.
Where will I live next? Will I return to Europe? I don’t know. God reveals His plans to me in stages—only after one task is completed does He reveal the next. Wherever He sends me, I will go, because I know He will provide.
Living in London isn’t cheap—it’s one of the most expensive cities in the world. But I believe God will provide the resources I need to be here, giving a voice to the true artists—women with little formal education but deep ancestral wisdom.
And the intuition has arrived: it’s time to tell London this whole story and launch a
crowdfunding campaign to support this mission. I plan to attend major events and
sustainability, and fashion gatherings in London through December, including the
prestigious London Design Festival in September.
Brothers and sisters, the work of the Father is never small—it is abundant!
May He continue to grant me wisdom and humility to honor the legacy of Brazilian artisan
women, sharing their heartfelt work with the world. You can follow my journey on Instagram: aluhmora And yes — everything has meaning!
Aluhmora – means:
A – Beginning
Lu – Light
H – Divine wisdom
Mo – Love
A – Arts

Where did I get this name from?
From intuition, of course! Didn’t I say it all comes from intuition? It’s the Creator’s work—
from the name onward.

Thank you, dear friends.
God bless you.

I’m so happy to share this story with you. I was once a shy teenager who avoided the
microphone—even in our community, I never spoke publicly. Yet here I am, sent on a journey
where microphones and a foreign country are now part of my path.
I’ll stop here, or I’ll keep going forever. I love a good chat—especially when it’s about my way of seeing life.
Kisses,
Pray for me so that I may honor this mission!

— Simone Camêlo