Winneba (C/R), March 5, GNA - Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, has called for an effective collaboration between the formal and informal sectors in the fashion industry to research and come out with a standard manual for cutting materials in the garment industry. He said this would help beginners, especially student teachers to be abreast with the most popular method of cutting among Ghanaian garment producers.

Prof Asabere-Ameyaw said this at a two-day workshop organized by the Department of Home Economics Education of the University in Winneba. The workshop was attended by twenty-five participants from Universities, Polytechnics, Training Colleges, Vocational Schools and the Dressmakers and Tailors Association in the Western, Central and the Ashanti Regions.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Mawutor Avoke who chaired the function, appealed to lecturers to adopt freehand cutting because it has been found as an ideal style of cutting out materials by local tailors in the country. He called on participants to carry out intensive education on the use of the freehand cutting in institutions of higher learning, to enable them turn out competent professionals in the fashion industry.

A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Home Economics, Phyllis Forster called on teachers and authors to discard the notion that free- hand cutting wastes fabric and is difficult to learn. Dr Forster mentioned that some of the problems associated with the teaching of freehand cutting method of some professionals in the clothing industry especially teachers, is the lack of standardized and well documented formula for the method. She urged teachers to help spread the message of the local Manual and encourage students to learn the freehand cutting, which she said they should blend with the one thought in class.