‘Market access’: Pakistani women artisans eye global buyers

Women artisans from Pakistan this month undertook a workshop during which they learned from expert colleagues the dynamics of accessing global markets for their products.

The workshop was held from 5 to 15 September 2007 in Karachi and Karimabad, and attracted more than 50 participants.

The project aims to forge an ongoing relationship between artisans, designers and consultants in the fashion industry," said Fatimah Kelleher, a programme officer in the Social Transformation Programmes Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Seven designers -- including Pakistan's Yusuf Bashir Qureshi and Italy-based Anthony Knight -- presented designer briefs for the women to work on. The samples produced from these briefs over the next three months will be included as part of a major exhibition to be held in January 2008 in London, UK.

The women were given an introduction to creating exquisite designs for items such as wall hangings, scarves and patch work for couture dresses.

Ms Kelleher, who co-ordinated the workshop, said: "The women were given thorough training in making products for which they already have the skills and aptitude for."

An Enterprise Facilitation Unit was established jointly by the Secretariat and the Rural Support Programmes Network in Islamabad to provide sustainable management and development support to the women as they engage their new skills and ideas.

"This programme will help women learn the value of their products and aim for wider markets. It will also help fashion designers source custom-made produce from the region, thus bringing considerable economic benefit," commented Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Head of the Gender Section at the Secretariat.

The long-term goal of the project is to help women establish co-operatives that will allow them 'self-sufficient management' of their skills, cutting out the monopoly of middlemen and equipping them with the capacity to demand fairer prices for their work directly from designers and their buyers.

Key Links:

• STPD
• Country Profile Pakistan