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PVBLIC SPOTLIGHT: Datina Designs Receives Fashion Impact Fund Grant to Empower Women through Education


Image: Datina Designs founder Atinuke Smith and previous course participants


The Fashion Impact Fund, a program of PVBLIC Foundation, is pleased to announce Datina Designs, a Fashion and Vocational Training Centre based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, as their latest grant recipient. The Fashion Impact Fund supports fashion skills training programs led by women for women to achieve education, employment and economic inclusion: Datina Designs is committed to empowering women through the art of fashion designs with a comprehensive curriculum that offers hands-on training from initial concepts to final creations. 


Founded more than 15 years ago by Atinuke Smith, Datina Designs teaches essential skills like sewing, patternmaking, and textile selection. Its center equips students with the confidence and expertise needed to produce high-quality garments that meet industry standards. Reflecting on the grant, Smith shared, “The Fashion Impact Fund allows us to empower women in our community, unlocking their potential, turning dreams into reality, transforming lives, fostering hope and resilience, and stitching success into every seam of our community.”


With the support of the Fashion Impact Fund, Datina Designs will launch the Sew 4 Fun Empowerment Project, a three-month initiative to train 20 women in the key areas of fashion design, styling, merchandising, and entrepreneurship in October 2024. This program aims to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to thrive in the fashion industry, ensuring they develop a well-rounded understanding of the business.

Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation, emphasized the program’s support of women-led initiatives like Datina Designs. She stated, “The PVBLIC Foundation is honored to invest in fashion workforce development solutions that empower women, not only to thrive in the fashion industry but to serve as catalysts for change in their communities. By equipping women with the skills and opportunities they need, we’re fostering sustainable economic growth, nurturing entrepreneurial spirit, and paving the way for inclusive development within the sector. Programs like Datina Design’s Sew 4 Fun Empowerment Project create a ripple effect—transforming lives at the grassroots level while contributing to the global movement for gender equity and economic empowerment. It's not just about fashion; it’s about building futures and shaping a more resilient and inclusive world for women everywhere.”


Datina Design’s curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to provide hands-on experience in every aspect of fashion design, from concept development to the final creation. By mastering the fundamentals of sewing, patternmaking, and textile selection, students gain the confidence and skills to produce high-quality garments that meet industry standards. More importantly, they emerge with a sense of self-worth and independence, moving from poverty into successful careers as entrepreneurs and skilled professionals.


Datina Design’s commitment extends beyond individual success—they are passionate advocates for sustainability and social responsibility in fashion, ensuring that their students not only succeed but do so with a positive impact on society. By investing in fashion workforce development solutions for women, we can create lasting and transformative impact on their lives, communities, and the sector globally.


PVBLIC Foundation is proud to expand its support of the work towards advancing women's financial independence, combating poverty, discrimination, and gender-based violence, while also promoting positive change within the fashion industry through the work of the Fashion Impact Fund. Read more about the impactful work being done by Datina Designs here.


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