Dynamic duo joins forces
MELBOURNE: Two local institutions have partnered in a pioneering initiative to boost education opportunities for students and succession planning scope for industry.
From this year wholesaler Pacific Brands and Melbourne's RMIT University will roll out a far-reaching program of funding, training, work placements and internships for RMIT fashion students, as programs manager fashion for RMIT's School of Fashion & Textiles Tina Guglielmino confirmed.
"Pacific Brands and RMIT have worked together for many years, but in early 2007 Pacific Brands approached us to put together an official ongoing working relationship, with a view to supplying our graduates with research, design and industry capabilities," she said, adding the wholesaler had used the past 12 months to pilot the scheme through its underwear and hosiery businesses.
"They've been doing projects with us, setting out briefs for students in terms of marketing and design concepts and providing fabrics and resources to us. For example a recent project had second year students working on sleepwear, childrenswear and menswear projects for Holeproof."
However 2008 would see the initiative rolled out across all categories covered by Pacific brands, including footwear, home comfort, outerwear and sportswear, while a program of year-long internships as well as a framework of shorter work placement opportunities would also be implemented.
Pacific Brands had also committed to ongoing financial support for an awards program rewarding excellence in RMIT's first year, second year and third year students, she said.
"I think Pacific Brands can really see the benefit of linking up officially with RMIT's School of Fashion & Textiles because we cover the whole supply chain in our courses, from textiles to clothing design through to merchandising."
Meanwhile the move, claimed as the first of its kind in Australia, was a strategic one for the wholesaler, confirmed Pacific Brands group people and performance manager Russell Kronenburg.
"This ties in with a central operating plank of Pacific Brands, which is centred around our people. Good designers are our creative lifeblood, and they are what differentiate our brands from the rest of the market. For us as an organisation this is about building lasting depth in terms of our brands."
Graduating RMIT students would be offered a solid career path at Pacific Brands he said, adding the company had just recruited eight RMIT alumni.
Pacific Brands - whose brand include Holeproof, Bonds, Berlei, Love Kylie, Dunlop, King Gee, Hard Yakka, Stussy, Lee, Merrell, Pierre Fontaine Hush Puppies - also had longer term plans, he said, including the creation of internships for RMIT teaching staff and further joint ventures with overseas universities in the UK and Hong Kong.