The aim of this study is to render problematic the relations between fashion design industry in Rio de Janeiro and popular production of textile articles and clothing, based on objective relationship and practices performed by a group of seamstresses living in Rio das Pedras favela, located in Jacarepaguá district, Rio de Janeiro. We sought to examine the relations between the development of textile design and attire commercialized in luxury boutiques and the work of nonspecialized seamstresses and producers, so named by the cultivated people, which sometimes is performed in a handicraft way in domestic clothing studios. To do so we´ve made theoretical research and field work, developing photographical material of the area, interviews and group discussion with seven seamstresses to investigate aspects referred to the production and the reception of fashion in this context. In that sense our research aims to understand in which extent there is an activity of design that can be considered hybrid according to the concept of hybridism developed by Canclini and propose a dialogue among the issues that seek to determine the borders and tensions existing between the handicraft and industrial practices. The relevance of this study for the field of fashion design remains in the fact of setting up a new focus for the productive aspect and give voice to a group of people who act invisible most of the times.