Motif offers online courses to fill the skill gap in fashion

Apparel consultancy firm Alvanon is launching an e-learning platform, after finding out the fashion industry lacks professionals with technical skills in a worldwide survey. The new company, Motif.org, provides online courses for professionals interested in boosting their knowledge amidst a rapidly changing fashion landscape.

With themes such as Sustainability in Fashion, Mechanicals of Fit and Apparel Costing, the four initial courses were developed in partnership with other organizations such as the Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator (BF+DA), the hub for ethical fashion initiated by New York’s Pratt Institute, and TAF.tc, the fashion and design school from Singapore. Videos, interactive exercises and assessments accompany each lesson. Anyone can join, and students can follow lessons at their own pace. Courses are currently offered in English, but more languages will follow next year. Motif also plans on teaming up with more companies and universities to expand its course offering.

The current skill gap in the fashion industry risks being widened by today’s rapidly changing technologies, from 3D design software to new materials, according to Alvanon’s study, published in October. “Things change so quickly. How do we update that knowledge?” asked Janice Wang, chief executive officer of Alvanon, who spoke to FashionUnited earlier this year in Hong Kong. “Our desire for Motif is that you can go to one place and find all the different categories of learning for the particular weakness that you might have as a company or an individual.”

More courses and languages to follow

It will not take long for Motif to expand its course offering: the next four classes will go online in the first half of 2019. Future courses will cover topics such as textile fundamentals, sizing, 3D design, and common pattern issues. As for additional languages, the company stated Spanish and Chinese courses are in the works for next year.

Prices range from 50 US dollars to 650 US dollars for a one-year Access -- the fees depend on the depth and amount of content offered by each course. Upon completion, each student receives a joint certificate from Motif as well as the course provider.

Photos: courtesy of Alvanon, Motif Website screenshot