The Head of Fashion and Textiles Department at the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) is worried poor finishing in Ghana’s textile industry is hampering its export potential.

Dr. Thomas Obeng Asare blames the situation on the proliferation of unskilled apprenticed tailors.

“The industry is dominated by apprentice-trained tailors and dressmakers. Most of these people have some deficiencies in terms of finishing and so they can’t meet international standards,” he said.

He was speaking at KsTU’s exhibition and fashion show dubbed ‘Fashion Expression 2021’.

As a requirement for graduation, the HND and BTech students are required to research, design and produce garment collection and accessories.

It is targeted at solving societal problems using available technology.

This year’s event is under the theme: “Partnership in Style”.

The department organizes the annual programme to demonstrate to the public that graduating students have gone through competency-based training in garment and textiles production.

It is meant to also provide the platform for the students to establish linkages with business partners.

Dr. Obeng Asare is confident students have been equipped with the skills to meet international standards.

“We give them that training so that they’ll focus on the quality aspect of production so that they can meet international standards,” he said.

Works aimed at investigative journalists, wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia and spider web-inspired works among others were on display.

Vice Chancellor of KsTu, Prof. Osei-Wusu Achaw was hopeful the students will be equipped with practical and entrepreneurial competence that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to socio-economic development of the nation.

“Unlike the traditional mode of offering instructions to students, this is about students going to the industry and picking ideas and then developing products out of those ideas,” he said.