Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears aims to “leverage the social and economic power of fashion as a vehicle to promote women’s empowerment and sexual and reproductive health” across a six-month training programme.
The course will provide skills and knowledge for 45 participants relevant to the fashion industry and to facilitate internships with local fashion companies. In addition, the programme also aims to give the participants a deeper understanding of sexual and reproductive rights and reduce their vulnerability to gendered inequalities and harmful practices.
The training pilot launched in May 2022 with 30 young women in Ghana and 15 in Kenya and, at the end of the six-month industrial attachment, the trainees will showcase their works at an end-of-year presentation.
Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at UNFPA, said: “UNFPA is working with creative industries to find innovative ways to support young women from ‘left behind’ communities to access their rights and choices in order to unlock their full potential. Fashion is a powerful platform to provide long-term, sustainable education and development opportunities across the world.
“We are proud to launch our partnership with Prada Group and its people through this impactful programme that focuses on women’s economic inclusion, pushes boundaries for sustainable development solutions, and acts as a springboard for further collaboration in the years to come.”
