DESIGNER COUPLE

 

Benny Noah Aole and Yula George with their certificates of participation after attending the PNG Fashion and Design training in Goroka.

BY ISAAC LIRI

THE number of unemployed youths in the country is increasing at a rapid rate as we see many youths roaming around doing nothing.

The search for employment is also very challenging for youths. Some end up engaging in criminal activities while the fortunate ones find hope through opportunities given and end up being productive citizens.

Five years ago the PNG Fashion and Design Week Limited was created by founder Mrs Janet Sios. One of the main aims behind this set up was to help youths in providing opportunities for them to find something meaningful in life.

In a recent grassroots fashion and design training workshop held in Goroka in the Eastern Highlands province, 38 participants were enlightened.

The training workshop opened up their minds to realize the potential of the fashion and design industry, and how they can create businesses in this sector to help sustain their livelihoods and also give back to the community.

The participants were trained on the production stages of fashion and design and also how to create business and market their products. The workshop gave them directions to tap into Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s).

Among the 38 participants was a couple. Benny Noah Aole, 27, from Faniufa village and Yula George, 25, from Masi village.

Prior to the training, the couple had no clue at all about fashion and design, but after attending the 13-day training, the couple say they’re now equipped with all the necessary skills and knowledge required to venture into this industry and make ends meet. 

They both met while studying accounting at the Goroka Technical Collage.

After coming out of school, finding employment was very challenging as they sat together pondering how they would survive in a world where money does most of the talking today.

Yula said it was through her aunt Susie that they knew about the training and both were encouraged to attend to find out more.

Janet Sios

They both got hooked since day one as they began learning on how to produce clothing that would signify a local identity which they can call it their own. These were uncharted waters for both, but fascinating, as it captured their utmost interest.

Furthermore they were then taught of the business opportunities related to the fashion and design industry and how to market their products.

They learnt the importance of partnership and what specific roles they can play to also contribute to an industry which was described by Janet Sios as a sleeping giant in its infancy stage.  

“We had other business plans but coming to this training has given us a new insight that fashion and design can give us an opportunity to start our own business,” Benny said.

“We’ve learnt a lot of new and exciting things while attending this training and we are very appreciative towards the people that connected us to this training, the organizers (PNG Fashion and Design Week) and the sponsors (Australian Government).

“Coming from accounting backgrounds, we both had some business skills in us and this just adds more to what we know already.” 

“We are both new in the fashion and design industry. We don’t sew or print shirts but because we were interested in starting our own business, we thought that this could be an opportunity so we took it.”  

During the 13 day period of the training, the couple would go back home and discuss on what they’ve learnt as they both realized how helpful the training was to them.

“We discovered that we had the potential and ability to venture into this but that potential was hiding somewhere and this training has unearthed that potential.

“We now see that fashion has a demand because every day people need clothes to wear, and with this understanding, we are now serious in tapping into this industry.”  

“We now have plans to start our own business in textile design and then grow and work together with the other participants we attended the training with.

Yula also shared similar sentiments; “Today there are a lot of people roaming the streets doing nothing and this training has given us hope that we can actually do something with our lives.

“This training is very helpful to us in this age group because we are the future of this country and the fashion and design industry has potential to grow with people like us.”