Private Sector Federation (PSF), the umbrella organ of the business community in the country plans to support the tailoring industry by boosting its productivity and access to the international market through innovation.

"What we are asking these tailors is to come together under one association so that we can support them and we are ready to help…get skills and increase production for bigger markets,” Antoine Manzi, PSF’s Director of Employment said.

He was speaking, Monday, during a workshop on skills training organised by PSF through the Technical and Vocational entrepreneurship training (TVET).

The workshop was aimed at addressing the skills gap in the private sector.

Lack of innovation and creativity has hampered the growth of the industry, which forces people to resort to foreign made garments, Manzi said.

The tailoring industry, according to Manzi, is lagging behind due to lack of potential to produce garments that would compete favourably compete on the international market, create employment and contribute to tax and export receipts.

Pathe Ouedraogo, a renowned designer, who designs for prominent people including African icon Nelson Mandela, urged tailors to save as one way of raising money to buy machines.

Ouedraogo, who was the facilitator, said that Rwanda’s garments would sell on international market if creativity, innovation and production are further enhanced.

"I have been taking my designed garments to UK, Canada and America but the demand is overwhelming and we cannot produce enough here,” said Placidie Murebwayire, the owner of design house- Atelier de Couture Ideale.

Jean Paul Binama of the Rwanda’s tailors cooperative said that: "Our problem is not because we don’t know how design, it is lack of skills and machinery to meet the quality

He called for government to establish a tailoring college to equip tailors with skills and expertise.

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