Silvana Favaretto was quite happy with the direction her life was taking. Originally from a small town in Brazil, she had emigrated to the US and was now a freelance graphic designer living in Chicago. Although she was always looking for ways to better herself and express herself creatively, she never really intended that her most recent social media project would lead her to find a whole new path in life.

Silvana jumped on the Instagram bandwagon last year, but soon found herself using the social media app for the wrong reasons. 

“After following designers and other talented people, I noticed I was pretty much using it to compare myself to others instead of using it as a source for inspiration,” Silvana says. 

The self-negativity encouraged Silvana to look for a more empowering use of Instagram, which led her to #The100DayProject.

Started in New York by artist and writer Elle Luna, #The100DayProject encourages participants to celebrate the process of creativity. Anyone can do it; all it requires is that you choose a creative act to do every day for 100 days and track the process on social media.

“I decided to do calligraphy,” Silvana says. “I was just so terrified to do anything because there are so many amazing and talented people out there, but I decided I was going to do it for the sake of putting myself out there. I like to take risks and challenge myself.”

Despite her fears, Silvana stuck to the project and completed 100 days of calligraphy.

“It wasn’t anything fabulous or really amazing, but it was really cool to be a part of something like that,” Silvana recalls. 

After 100 days, she felt she wasn’t quite finished with the project.

“It was about the end of summer and I wanted to do something else,” Silvana says. “I like having a side project, it’s so inspiring and it helps me stay creative for my work projects.” 

She began searching in her life and the city around her, looking for inspiration for her next #The100DayProject.

“I kept thinking, I want to do something to put myself out there. This is my world, and I want to just be myself, the main character of my own life,” Silvana says. “Whatever creative thing that comes to my mind I’m just going to go for it even if it sounds crazy.”

It wasn’t until Silvana was walking the streets of Chicago in September that she was struck with her next project idea.

“There was this family with two little girls and they were both wearing tutus with their outfits,” Silvana says. “It was adorable, and I said to my friend, ‘Why can’t I wear tutus every day?’ and so she answered me, ‘why not?’ From there it was just stuck in my head.”

Silvana found some tulle, a tailor who understood the vision for her project, and created a nifty new Instagram handle: TheTulleProject.

“I knew I wanted to do something that was very ‘me,’ not copying anybody else, and that’s what kept coming to my mind,” Silvana says. “So I decided I was going to wear these skirts for 100 days.”

After only a few short months, she has already gained over 2,000 followers.

“I use The Tulle Project to also share the story of my struggles of being a woman and feeling like I need to fit in,” she says.

Silvana’s honesty and candidness has paid off, as The Tulle Project continues to grow.

“People respond really well when I’m really personal like that, because it’s just me being vulnerable,” Silvana says. “It’s just a really cool way to interact with people.” 

When she first began her project however, Silvana worried that others might judge her, or think the project was ‘stupid’ or ‘embarrassing.’ 

“I was incredibly excited and at the same time terrified,” she said.

Silvana debated not going through with The Tulle Project and considered just finding another project she could work on. She just wasn’t sure how her idea would be received by those around her.Yet despite her fears, she was ultimately overwhelmed by the support from her new followers and those closest to her.

“My very good friends Kate and Rachael were incredibly supportive. I don't think I'd actually [have done] it without their encouragement and positive feedback. Having other women's support was a big deal!”

Since starting The Tulle Project, Silvana has realized just how important her friendships with women have become.

“Growing up, I didn’t have many girlfriends,” she says. “And now women actually stop to talk to me because they love my skirts, it’s unbelievable. Because of that I’ve been trying to connect with other women more, instead of trying to have it all together myself.”

While The Tulle Project started as a simple practice of #The100DayProject, Silvana has decided to take it beyond just a celebration of the creative process. She has found empowerment and truth in her new path, and isn’t quite ready to stop.

Silvana already has plenty of ideas for what she wants the future of The Tulle Project to look like.

“I’m currently looking into things, but I’m aiming to start a business where I have my own online store of tulle skirts.” 

The project has turned out to be like a dream for the graphic designer. 

“I can live my life walking around in skirts and it can be my business. It’s going to be the best job ever,” Silvana says.

But just because she loves to strut around Chicago in tulle skirts does not mean you should take Silvana any less seriously. She’s got big plans for the future, including a heartfelt desire to help empower young girls in need.

“I want to give skirts away for charity because every little girl deserves to feel special, to feel like a princess,” she says. “With their own tulle skirts, they can dream and they can just be little girls.” 

Silvana knows that true power lies in confidence, and that's what she wants to instill in the girls she meets through charity efforts.

“And it’s not that the way you look means everything, but when you’re a little girl, it will change [your] perspective, and that’s what I’m hoping to bring to them.”

She’s already begun to put this plan to action through the Ronald McDonald house, a charity that provides a home away from home for families with seriously ill children staying at the hospital. 

“I gathered some girlfriends, I bought a bunch of tulle, and then we made little tulle skirts. I’m going to donate them to the girls that are coming back from the hospital,” Silvana says. “I’ve loved doing it, it’s definitely part of something that I want to continue doing, to be inspiring, and inspire other people.”

With such an empowering and inspiring message, it’s no wonder that Silvana’s project has been such a success. When asked if she had any advice for young women looking to follow their dreams, Silvana thought for a moment.

“Experiment a lot! Be creative, in every way. There’s so much today to be a part of, there’s so much knowledge out there. Try new things, reach to push yourself, be silly. Know that you matter so much.”