Craftsmen without Borders – Sokodé

This mission was conducted at the end of the training "Acting in support of international cooperation projects" of the program Craftsmen without Borders. This project aims to set up a Franco-German network of artisans to help structure the craft industry in Africa and, in the process, improve the income prospects and competitiveness of artisans on the continent. It is co-managed by CMA France, CMAR Nouvelle Aquitaine and the Chamber of Crafts of Frankfurt in Germany.

This session of companionship was hosted in the National Weaving Center of Sokodé in Togo by representatives of the Regional Chamber of Crafts of the Central Region. During eight days, the craftsmen sewers, tailors and embroiderers have perfected their techniques of cutting, assembly and finishing. Through practical workshops, they were able to set up processes to work independently on the creation of small production lots.

The region of Sokode is famous for its handmade pagnes. These striped fabrics are used to create traditional outfits. During the training session, the tailors worked on both ready-to-wear garments and high-end models. They are now able to respond to calls for tenders to create collections and develop a high quality handicraft in parallel.