Getting locked up behind bars was no match for the desire of the city's young offenders to start anew.

In a visit by fashion industry bigwigs invited to take part in the fashion show organized by 15 inmates from the Shanghai Juvenile Reformatory, hope had once again shone through despite the bleak circumstances surrounding the situation.

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Following the event that showcased the design talent and skills of the inmates, five of them concluded the show with an employment contract that would take effect after their release from the prison. All five inmates who successfully secured an employment offer are due for release in the next few months, as claimed by the prison authorities.

The Shanghai Juvenile Reformatory has been established in 1953. Since then, it has served as the lone governmental agency in-charge of housing roughly 200 juvenile criminal aged 14 to 18 years. In addition, the agency serves as a holding place for inmates who reached 18 in the course of their internment, as well as some adult prisoners transferred from congested jails.

In an effort to aid the inmates in having a good life following their stint in prison, the agency offers vocational training programs. The recently concluded event was one of the efforts initiated by the Shanghai Juvenile Reformatory to help the inmates achieve a stable life after their release.

One of the breakout stars of the event, which was called "Real You" fashion show, is Zhenni.

The 23-year-old inmate is a native of Shanghai. She had been sentenced to be imprisoned for four years due to charges pertaining to organization of prostitution filed against her three years ago.

"I had a happy family background and my parents run a business. But I got into bad company and ended up in prison, bringing shame on my parents," Zhenni shared with the Shanghai Daily.

Prior to achieving her success in the recently completed fashion show, Zhenni had been uncooperative and unwilling to participate in the programs initiated by the prison staff. She claimed to have rebelled against the education and reform training offered to her.

"I thought staff would give up on me due to my bad behavior, but they continued caring for me, which touched me a lot. So I began to calm down and took part in some training programs," the 23-year-old disclosed.

She was immediately drawn to the tailoring and sewing classes, which she began to attend last year.

"It's great to see the cloth changing into beautiful clothes," Zhennni exclaimed.

The training for this craft had been sponsored by the China Council of Lion Clubs, which has members actively providing support to inmates. The group provided the training programs, as well as the materials used in Zhenni's fashion showcase. Apart from the 23-year-old, the other inmates took part of the show as models, designers, and tailors.

With her hard work and remarkable skill, Zhenni had been one of the inmates offered with an employment contract.

"This show and the contract give me a sense of belonging. It shows that I'm still a member of society and can be trusted by others," she said.

TagsShanghai Juvenile Reformatory, prison, Fashion, design, fashion show, jail, juvenile, prisoner