Local Designers To Benefit From JBDC Festival Of The Cloth Workshop Series

Local designers in the fashion, gift and craft industry are to benefit from the ‘Festival of the Cloth Workshop Series’, being hosted by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

The series is a three-part programme, which will focus on Design Motif and Block Cutting on March 2 to 4; Waxing and Dyeing Part 1 on March 16 to 18, and Waxing and Dyeing Part 2 from March 30 to April 1.

The first workshop will be done via Zoom, while the second and third will take place at the JBDC Incubator and Resource Centre on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at a cost of $5,000.00 per workshop.

These workshops will aid in the development of the local textile sector with a clear goal of exposing participants to the Nigerian method of batik and tie-dyeing. The workshops will be facilitated by the Nigerian Cultural Diplomat to Jamaica, Alao Luqman, and trained employees of the JBDC.

Chief Executive Officer at the JBDC, Valerie Veira, told JIS News that the programme aims to equip participants with the skills to create and perpetuate uniquely Jamaican designs and identify hand-printed fabrics that will tell the Jamaican story and preserve the culture.

“What we want is for people to really come and understand – get a feel as to what the possibilities are – and to continue to work with us because whilst we now are sharing the techniques for developing the product, it must be within a business context if we want it to be sustainable,” she said.

As a part of the event, participants will be exposed to the textile market, understanding finances and how to make the skill profitable.

“As an organisation, what we will be doing is wrapping that around with some business development skills to ensure that whenever you actually start developing your business, that you have a good structure in which to do it,” Head of the JBDC said.

Persons interested in participating in the workshops can call (876) 928-5161 or register online at the following links:

• Design Motif & Block Cutting: https://jamaica.ecenterdirect.com/events/5716 before Monday, February 28 at 4:00 p.m.

• Festival of the Cloth – Waxing & Dyeing Part 1 (Foundation): https://jamaica.ecenterdirect.com/events/5717 before Monday, February 28 at 5:00 p.m.

• Festival of the Cloth- Waxing & Dyeing Part 2 (Master): https://jamaica.ecenterdirect.com/events/5718 before Wednesday, March 30 at 8:00 a.m.