Indigenous women learn trade of high end fashion in Zegna school

Haute couture fashion house, Ermenegildo Zegna, offers free training for indigenous women, from several ethnic groups in Mexico City, to help them improve their clothing production techniques and, consequently, add value to their products.

The fashion firm has being responsible to dress the likes of Hollywood actors such as George Clooney and has now set to offer professional clothing production training for a group of sixteen indigenous women from the purépecha, otomí, triqu, tzeltal, nahúatl and mazahua ethnic groups in the facilities of Zegna School in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City.

The group brings together women from ages ranging between 17 to 60 years of age, who learn Zegna’s garment production techniques for blouses, trousers and skirts. This knowledge will enable them to polish up their own technique, provide top textile finishing and more sizes for all their clothes, as well as to add more value to their end product.

Participants are only required to attend the training sessions since they receive all the necessary material to participate, as well as a recent economic support that enables them to cover their transportation expenses. The program is the result of an alliance between Ermenegildo Zegna fashion firm and the Office of Rural Development and Community Equity in Mexco City (SEDEREC).

The Italian firm has noted that it will not keep or use any of the regional designs participants employ during the training.