The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ms Thandi Tobias-Pokolo will launch the Fashion Design Innovation Centre at the Eastern Cape Arts and Craft Hub in Mthatha on Friday, 16 August 2013.
The centre is expected to create a conducive environment for fashion designing to flourish in the Eastern Cape by assisting designers in the province unleash their creative potential and compete equally with designers in other parts of South Africa.
Fashion design graduates from the Walter Sisulu University and sewing groups that have been established around OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts will receive technical training in all aspects of clothing manufacturing at the new centre.
“Through the establishment of the centre, the dti together with stakeholders such as the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, will create a training environment in which various business and technical training providers will provide training and technical support to emerging fashion designers at the centre. These experts will also assist sewing groups to establish business relations with fashion designers for new styles and for undertaking the manufacturing of big orders secured by designers,” says Deputy Minister Tobias-Pokolo.
The CSIR, through the dti’s Textiles and Clothing Centre of Excellence (TCCoE) will manage the day to day affairs of the centre.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
