Workshop on footwear design development

THE Export Development Board EDB together with the Footwear Design Development Institute (FDDI) in India has organised a seminar and a workshop on "Footwear Design Development" for the benefit of the local footwear industry.

The seminar will be on October 18 from 9 am to 2 pm at the EDB auditorium. The workshop will be held from October 19 to 31 at the Industrial Development Board IDB. Both seminars and the workshops will be conducted by senior design consultant of the FDDI, Alok Mittal.

A senior official of EDB said that there is a lack in design development of the sector. We need to enhance this area in gaining global markets. This will be a good opportunity for the manufacturers to develop their design skills, she said.

Training programmes on footwear designing are expensive and available in countries like Italy and India. There is only one course available in Sri Lanka in designing which is conducted by the IDB.

The workshop will cover areas of identification of design problems, latest international trends, and pattern engineering.

EDB also expects to select 10-15 manufacturers who have the necessary capacity and gear them to enter into the export market through an integrated marketing programme with the assistance of a foreign consultant. - (AS)