The Border Mail - Fashion courses must continue:
"TWELVE years ago I took a redundancy from TAFE as a fashion teacher.
It was fairly obvious then that there was a “departmental push”, driven by a political motive, to downsize fashion in NSW.
This had begun years before when the Australian manufacturing industry was being turned upside down.
When I began teaching 48 years ago, fashion did have one of the highest enrolments of any course run by TAFE.
A very beneficial service was provided to the community, especially in the country.
All teachers had to travel to one or two circuit centres as part of a three-week timetable.
Culcairn, Henty, Walbundrie, Corowa and Oaklands were all serviced.
The statement that, “Fashion studies are not in vogue” is a view, not a fact.
People still need these courses and can earn an income from them, as is the case with the millinery certificate course that has just been completed by 26 students at Albury TAFE. At least half of this group is now retailing the hats they make.
This is also the case of many previous students of dressmaking certificates and commercial needlecraft who have gained employment or gone into business.
These courses have been discontinued not because they are no longer in vogue, or unpopular, but because of a departmental decision as a response to a political policy.
One may think that space and finance are needed to run the 10 new courses Ms Campbell promoted which may have a better scope for employment than the fashion courses provide.
Wagga TAFE director Ms Campbell feels, “the demand for the fashion skills is less these days because people can buy clothes for less than what it costs to make them.”
Except for everyday T-shirt and pants combinations, this may be correct.
But I can still make my clothes for much less than what it costs to buy them.
Having just returned from a trip to China and seen how the Chinese live and work, I feel somewhat unnerved at the thought of purchasing cheap clothing from China, while watching the destruction of TAFE fashion courses.
There is a place for boutique fashion; there is a client base of people who will pay more for quality, style, fit and individuality.
There is a need to train qualified dressmakers.
There is a need for a course that will teach these skills to many talented and creative people.
We do not want to lose the skills of pattern makers, graders, machinists, and designers.
If we do we may in future be importing them from overseas."
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