Taken from the Winter 2014 issue of Dazed:
Just outside the town of Kuldīga in Western Latvia is a rehabilitation centre where alcoholics take the brave step to relocate both themselves and their families in search of a better way of life. The focus there is on healing through religion, but community also plays a vital role: “Theres a real sense of family,” says Dazed fashion editor Elizabeth Fraser-Bell, who teamed up with photographer and Dazed 100 creative Joanna Piotrowska to capture the people there. “Everyone helps each other out with looking after the children and doing jobs around the building.” They also help to look after the dogs at the centre – including 40 huskies, ten pointers and a set of chihuahuas, who appeared in one shot to climb on one resident, Artis. The images are proof of the residents’ defiant optimism, despite the harshness of their situation. “We just wanted to document the amazing and brave people that completely changed their lives by moving themselves there,” Fraser-Bell concludes.
Photography Joanna Piotrowska; styling Elizabeth Fraser-Bell; grooming Aija Udentina; models Artis Bērziņš, Baiba Kristiņa, Ivo Brazis, Kristina Braže, Liene Tarasjuka, Lita Ozollapa, Marta Jevbakimova, Nora Kikuste, Salvis Oficieris; photographic assistant Eliza Ozolina; styling assistant Samia Giobellina
