Mindful Fashion New Zealand starts 'Love Local' campaign

24 Jul '20

2 min read

Pic: Boosted

Mindful Fashion New Zealand (MFNZ), a collective of the country’s leading clothing and textile firms, recently called on Kiwis to save the New Zealand garment industry through a new crowd-funding campaign titled ‘Love Local’. In conjunction with arts funding platform Boosted, it aims to support the threatened domestic industry through new programmes and projects.

The campaign will provide the much-needed support to fabric suppliers, machinists, cutters, button-holers, pleaters and embroiderers, the backbone of the local industry.

The not-for-profit organisation’s goal is to raise funds to invest in the garment industry, so that it is kept alive and thrives in New Zealand, according to media reports in the country.

The Love Local campaign has a fundraising goal of $30,000 to invest in three projects to support the future growth of the garment making industry.

These projects are implementing an apprenticeship programme to grow the industry and create future jobs; developing education programmes to address industry challenges and access new opportunities; and creating a digital directory of domestic suppliers to help designers find providers of critical cutting, trimming and sewing services.

MFNZ founder Kate Sylvester says there is a declining number of New Zealanders with garment construction skills, making it difficult for many designers to manufacture clothing within the country. This skill shortage in an industry faced by competition from global fast-fashion implies the country needs to act now to protect the future of its domestic apparel business.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)