Certificate in Tailoring and Fashion Designing
Course Overview
MASUM's tailoring and fashion designing course is conceived for rural young women of Pune district's Purandar block. The course transforms domestic sewing skills into income-earning potential and promotes economic self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Launched in 1990, the course helped girls continue learning after school dropout and reduced vulnerability to forced and early marriages. Initially funded by TRYSEM, it later continued through MASUM support and participant fees.
Since 2018, classes have been conducted at MASUM's office in Saswad. Earlier, classes moved village-to-village every few batches to improve access for women from interior villages and hamlets.
Course Duration
Four months. Classes are held from 10 AM to 4 PM on all days except Sundays and public holidays.
Eligibility
No minimum educational requirement or age criterion. Enrollment is based on practical understanding of measurements and basic mathematics.
Evaluation
End-of-course exam totals 300 marks: paper cutting (100), dress making (100), written test (80), and design/pattern journal (20). Oral support is provided for students unable to write.
Fees
Fees: Rs 3000. The amount may be waived or reduced for Dalit, minority, economically marginalised applicants, and those at risk of early marriage.
Course Content
- Sewing machine operation and repair (theory and practical)
- Tailoring: pattern making, paper cutting, cloth cutting and stitching
- Dress making: salwars, tops, kurtas, kameezes, blouses, skirts and children's wear
- Basics of fashion designing
The programme also includes exposure visits, career guidance, health and legal awareness, co-curricular activities (cycling, self-defence, yoga, theatre), and institutional visits to police stations and courts.
Faculty
1. Almas Bagwan — taught the course from 1992 until retirement in 2015 and played a foundational role in mentoring and supporting students.
2. Suraiya Mulani — diploma in education, associated with MASUM since 1992, and currently the lead faculty for the course.