An entrepreneur and photographer, Adriana Garcia Cruz has written: “When I learned about Dress for Success, I immediately wanted not only to be a beneficiary and receive services but also to understand the concept behind the service. I am an artist from Colombia, a country where classism is expressed in many ways. One of these ways relates to the clothes people wear. From a young age, I was aware of the importance of dressing well, but deep down, I always rejected this reality. At Dress for Success, I was able to understand that what matters is not the brands or trying to look like someone else. On the contrary, they helped me understand the importance of dressing according to my intimate and very personal needs, to feel good and at the same time express my worth.”

“Some time ago, I took a course for women entrepreneurs. There, I discovered the services of Dress for Success. They invited me to a session where, before we started, I was interviewed by a volunteer who would help me find my clothing style and assist me in trying on different pieces of clothing. I had the opportunity to take a morning for myself, to look at myself in the mirror, and to try on things I would never have tried because I felt they weren’t for me, like dresses in different colors and belts that accentuated my waist. In Colombia, where female beauty is an obligation and limits us, I had never felt like a real woman.”

Adriana recently began her relationship with Dress for Success Montreal via its Suiting Program.