Natalie Sturman Fashion Designer [Ipswich, England]
			Click for     more Photos Volunteer Vacation
	Natalie takes measurements of a girl during one of the many sizing sessions as part of product development.
		Description: (Cape Coast, Ghana. Jul – Oct 2005) Because When Natalie, a fashion design graduate, arrived in Cape Coast in the summer of 2005, she determined that the women in the Global Mamas cooperative face issues of not having the experience to produce products which meet regulations and quality expectations of the western markets. WIP did not have formal quality control systems in place. WIP also had a great need in expanding its Global Mamas clothing line to include new textile designs and garments to keep the existing customer base happy. Achievements: Natalie persevered through challenges in the product development process and accomplished the following: Updated Quality Control Specifications for many of the new Global Mamas products. Facilitated two design workshop with both the seamstresses and the batikers. Carried out several sizing sessions and public schools and in the office to ensure the clothing was fitting properly. Worked closely with all of the seamstresses in pattern adjustments. Introduced five new children's and adult garments into the new Global Mamas wholesale catalog: women's halter dress, women's ruffle skirt, women's gypsy blouse, women's A-line dress, babies top/knickers outfit. Introduced several new textile designs used in the new Global Mamas catalog. Highlights: Natalie highlight was at a bi-monthly roundtable of the Global Mamas. She had suggested giving an award to one of the women for being hardworking, trustworthy and on time. Natalie and other WIP staff decided to give the award to seamstress Grace. She was thrilled to bits! At the end of the meeting Natalie congratulated Grace on her achievement, and she said to her "It's because of you; I couldn't have done it without you." "I made a point of visiting the women's residences or work places to get a first hand insight into how they work and what the conditions are like in comparison to a design/ seamstress studio back here in England. In Ghana, they are cramped, some outdoors, in street corners - yet still a reflection of how well they are doing. The one recurring thing I did notice was that most of the women had their children and family around them while they worked. One seamstress was breastfeeding while continuing to sort out pattern pieces on fabric, good multi-tasking I think!" close window