Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe Ministry of Trade and Industry started the TOT on Footwear and Goods Design, Development, Manufacturing Craftsmanship and Export Readiness at the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe (ZIM) Bulawayo on August 29th, 2022. The Training aims at enhancing SMEs competiveness, access of their products to the domestic and export markets, and the mindset shift of their operating attitudes through learning the fundamental dynamics and principles of:
- Footwear design and development
- Manufacturing Craftsmanship,
- Exports Readiness
The 8 days training will be conducted by Mr. Moses Maina Lead trainer from Member state, Mr. Preston Viswamo ALLPI’s Regional Design Studio project Manager co-trainer and Mrs. Birkinesh Gonfa ALLPI’s Investment, Trade and Marketing expert as a co-trainer and facilitator of the training.
During the opening session of the training key note speech was addressed by Mr. Cornelo Sunduza Executive chairman of LIZ. He mentioned the issue of market access for Africa SME’s, World leather and leather products Trade, overview/historical background of leather sector of Zimbabwe, access to LWG, Demand for leather products in the country visa vi supply, need to fill the gap as sector player.
Welcome Address and official opening were addressed by the Minister Mr. Dingiswayo and he thanked ALLPI for organizing this training with the ministry. He also mentioned this workshop is at a right time since the 2nd phase of implementation of industry Development strategy (2021-2026) and the government commitment to implement it. And He officially declared the opening of the training.
In this training twenty SME’s are selected from Harare and Bulawayo who worked as a cluster in the leather field and the above topics will be addressed in a participatory and team work platforms based on the consensus reached during the opening of the Training session.
The main Topics of the training and practical session are:
- Mind-set Change
- The Design Studio Concept.
- Team work/Joint Actions.
- Footwear Product Design and Development including Fashion trend forecast, product design and development
Research & Inspiration - Practical exercise on pattern making: Last taping, Drawing design lines.
- Designed product Pattern developing.
- Quality management (quality control Quality assurance)
- Common defects in leather footwear Manufacturing.
- Common Defects on Materials used in shoe making.
- Major bonding problems in shoe manufacturing.
- Footwear quality user complaints.
- An overview of the tools, equipment machines used in footwear manufacturing
- Manufacturing premises Fitness.
- Practical exercise on shoe product making. Upper stitching operation
- Practical exercise on shoe product making. Lasting and finishing operation.
- The importance of Proper Material Calculation and Costing.
- SMEs Footwear Export readiness
- SMEs footwear/ internationalization/Export readiness.
- Practical evaluation of product in terms of product export readiness.