Thanks to the PGFRC, women in Pakistan can train to become tailors. In the course, the participants also learn how to become self-employed.

52-year-old Shabnam sketches intricate fashion designs in a colourful classroom in downtown Lahore. She is taking a course in tailoring and fashion design that will enable her to open her own fashion design studio in her hometown of Islamabad - and from home.

Shabnam's mother had advised her a long time ago to learn something so that she could earn her own money and support herself. Following the advice, Shabnam started sewing about 15 years ago. Initially, she sewed clothes for her circle of friends and family. Soon she also wanted to study fashion design, but found that most fashion design courses were too far away or too expensive for her. One of her regular customers then told her about the tailoring and fashion design course.

The course is organised by the Pakistani-German Facilitation and Reintegration Centre (PGFRC) in collaboration with its partner organisation, the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF). "This was the perfect opportunity for me to gain knowledge in fashion design and take my sewing business to a new level, so I contacted the PGFRC and enrolled for the course," Shabnam says.

Become a tailor: One month of theory and practice

The one-month course takes place at the STEP Institute of Art, Design & Management (IADM) in Lahore and is offered to both returnees and the local population, including vulnerable groups. It is led by experts from the fashion industry and consists of theoretical and practical parts. Participants learn important basics about fashion trends, design, tailoring and sewing. In addition, they complete a business development module and learn about how to start a new business.

Those travelling from out of town for the course can stay in accommodation organised by the PGFRC for the duration of the training. Once they have completed the course, all participants will receive a certificate of completion and a kit of materials to get them started. The package includes a sewing machine, design and cutting tools. Participants also learn how to use social media marketing to promote their own business. Basic knowledge about bookkeeping and starting a business are also part of the course content.

Discovering and filling gaps in the market

"The teachers are very helpful and go out of their way to give personal support and advice," says Shabnam. She knows where she wants to go: "I want to start my own fashion design studio in Islamabad and train and employ local women so that they too can earn a stable income."

The lectures take place in a large hall and the participants pay close attention to the teacher's instructions on the white board. One who eagerly takes notes is 37-year-old Natasha from Lahore, who was never able to realise her dream job as a fashion designer for financial reasons. After an accident, she gained a lot of weight due to medication and had difficulties finding suitable clothes. Therefore, she decided to design clothes especially for plus-size women.

After discovering this gap in the market, an acquaintance told her about the tailoring course. "The course covers all aspects, from developing a design to actually sewing the final product," she explains. "I want to start my own business and specialise in plus-size designs. This course is just right for me to learn all the necessary skills and knowledge," she adds.

With new skills towards independence

In the middle of the training sewing studio, 35-year-old Adila sits carefully threading a yarn into her sewing machine. Adila is from Lahore and, despite the social norm, did not marry early. She preferred to work and support herself. Adila, who has always been entrepreneurial, started selling unembroidered clothes online. Her products were well received and customers also asked Adila for embroidered clothes. She had to outsource the orders to local tailors as she was not able to embroider the clothes herself. Soon, however, she decided to acquire these skills so that she could supply the orders on her own. Adila heard about the course on Facebook. So she too got the opportunity to expand her business and increase her income.

"I always wanted to go my own way and be independent and self-reliant," says Adila. "This course not only gave me the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills, but also gave me new confidence to achieve my dreams."

As of: 06/2023