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Tailoring/ Sewing Project

Our Aim:
  • to provide training and income earning opportunities for locals
  • to produce unique items finished to European standards suitable to attract the tourist market
  • to export items to UK
  • for the project to become self funding after initial support
 

  • in The Gambia, Feb 15 founder Jane Smith, given a traditional shirt in dashiki material

  • purchased a short length to take home but made a dress

  • creating great interest she decided to make more to raise funds 

  • Dave Adams and wife Anta purchased several 6yd lengths in various colours 

  • via Facebook group a regular visitor  brought it back

  • Jane collected the beautiful collection from 100 miles away

  • over the summer months she created made to measure garments gradually exploring different ways of using the heavily patterned fabric

How it began
Original DashikiShirt

Click on any photo to enter slideshow

Dashiki material for JAG!

JAGshiki Designs

is born

Where we are NOW
What we have

  • Jan/Feb '16 Jane began to make garments
    in Janjanbureh

  • interested locals  came regularly for tuition

  • made simple wrap skirts and bags

  • Jane created other garments

  • towards the very end of her stay a local tailor also became involved

  • two Singer hand machines

  • one knee operated electric Singer machine

  • one modern basic electric zigzag machine

  • a simple workshop 

  • a variety of accessories

  • threads etc

Where we want to be

  • employ a local tailor as a trainer

    • 3 hours daily, 4 days a week

  • train one person as a supervisor

  • train further people

  • teach use of commercial patterns

  • raise standards of finish to European standard

    • finished seams

    • linings

    • exact matching of patterns

  • attract tourists to our workshop

How you could support us
Help establish and run for one year

Salaries

Per month     @60/£      Per year

Tailor:            1300GD     £21.67      £260

Supervisor      800GD     £13.33      £160

Materials

Per length     @60/£    

6 yds        600GD          £10   

 

Donations ot items

  • Singer hand sewing machines

    • £15 to ship and transport upriver

  • mannequins/dress forms

  • slightly domed bobbins/not modern flat

  • dressmaking pins (hard to purchase!)

  • good scissors of all sizes

  • pinking sheers

  • good bias binding

  • any stiffening suitable for base of bags

Expertise

  • we would welcome just your time if you are visiting Janjanbureh- even a few hours

  • your expertise for any crafting ideas which could be introduced

Supporters
Simplicity New Look
Click here 

  • Whilst in Janjanbureh Feb'16 Jane responded to a Facebook request from Simplicty 'What have you been sewing this weekend'

  • She responded about the workshops in Janjanbureh

  • Simplicity immediately replied they would like to support our work

  • We have subsequently received a large quantity of wide ranging patterns which will be shipped out

THANK YOU

Simplicity - New Look

Past Supporters
Empress Mills
Click here

  • In Spring 2013 we asked for support for a sewing skills entereprise we supported for 6 months

  • Empress Mills donated a large supply of threads etc

       which were shipped off with two hand sewing machines

THANK YOU

Empress Mills

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