People with disabilities join others in fashion design training

THE PNG Fashion Festival has wrapped up a series of workshops in Lae, Kokopo and Port Moresby, training more than 250 participants in fashion design.
They included 30 people with disabilities.
Australia was a major sponsor of the festival aimed at developing PNG’s creative and cultural industries to increase the economic participation of women and marginalised groups.
The festival was delivered by the PNG Fashion and Design Week Ltd, focusing on ensuring fashion was inclusive and accessible to all, especially people living with disabilities.
The final workshop was in Port Moresby from May 13 to 28, with presentation of certificates on the final day.
Australian deputy high commissioner Caitlin Wilson attended the ceremony and commended participants on the completion of training.
Wilson said Australia was proud to support the festival in nurturing local talent and creativity.
“We want Papua New Guineans to become empowered through skills-based training so they can earn a living and become active citizens in their communities,” she said.
Selina Gimbat, 26, was one of 46 graduates of the Port Moresby course.
They included 12 people with disabilities who learned skills in fashion design, sewing, textile-printing and business marketing.
“I sew different items to make a living for myself and my husband. We are both living with hearing impairments,” said Selina through a sign language interpreter from the PNG Deaf Association.
“Since the beginning of the training I have learnt more than just sewing. I have learnt about tie-dying, developing designs, printing on fabric and, most of all, sewing using accurate measurements.
“Usually, I would sew using eye measurements and would need to do alterations to get it right.
“With these new skills, I want to expand my business at home and incorporate weaving and other cultural designs.
“I am walking away from this training with so much to boost my business and to also help my hearing-impaired peers.”
Janet Sios, founder and manager of PNG Fashion Design Week Ltd, said the interest in fashion training from people with disabilities was overwhelming. Sios said the interest greatly reflected the need for more training to be rolled out.