Two young men gradute with sewing skills

TWO enthusiastic young men were surprisingly among 31 women who graduated from a two-week tailoring and basic meri blouse sewing skills course in Lae last Friday.
The training is the first in the province and was conducted by Rabaul based tailor Ellias Sakkias who heads the Ellys Skkys Profesional Tailoring Training Institute.
As PNG’s only internationally recognized designer and machinist, Mr Ellias has set out to spread his tailoring ministry to improve standard of dressing in the country and by teaching people how to do it.  
The course is also aimed at building capacity, promoting self employment and empowering women and youths to be self reliant.
During the training the participants were thought the basic patterns of sewing meri blouse.
They were also thought theory and skills of designing, drafting, measurement, grading, cutting and sewing, drawing and dressing.
In a small ceremony last Friday at the Lae Secondary school grounds, The National regional editor Oseah Philemon who was the guest of honour praised Mr Ellias for passing on his unique skills and knowledge.
Mr Philemon said the course was a start to give women and men greater opportunities to advance in the garment industry.
He said it was sad that Papua New Guineans continue to flock to second hand shops when we could train our own men and women to design and sew garments that meet international standards.
From the course conducted, it showed that there was a growing demand in the country for the skills of designing and sewing, he said.
Mr Philemon added that there was a need for technical and vocational trainings institutions to introduce tailoring courses that would teach people to be like Mr Ellias.
Similar trainings will trainings will held again in March.