The Prada Group is expanding its training program for women in the fashion industry.
In collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Italian company has unveiled a fashion training program in Mexico. Titled ‘Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears’, it aims to strengthen the technical, artistic and financial skills of local female artisans, the Prada Group said on Monday.
The initiative, which launched in 2021 and has already supported participants in Ghana and Kenya to develop practical skills for the fashion industry, has found its next stop in the Mexican state of Querétaro. 30 indigenous and locally based knitters and weavers will receive six months of mentoring that will intensify both their production techniques and marketing know-how. It is also important to promote their self-determination in the area of sexual health.
Following the training, you can complete an internship in the fashion industry. The local cooperation partner Nest, a non-profit organization that promotes gender equality and the economic integration of artisans, also offers the use of a library and imparting knowledge in the areas of finance and business development.
“The beauty of the collaboration between UNFPA and Prada Group is that it puts creativity at the center to create inclusive communities for women and girls,” said UNFPA Head of Strategic Partnerships Mariarosa Cutillo. “We have seen the impact of this model in Africa, where fashion has been used to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and the economic empowerment of women, and we are excited to see what results it will have for the women artisans in Querétaro, Mexico will have.”