Starting with the numbers, in 2015, 5,678 trainees walked in the corridors of its headquarters, in Oporto, the delegation of Lisbon received 2,117 students and Covilhã welcomed 2,655 students. The Barcelos’ branch received 2,032 trainees and Vila das Aves 1,821. These data also include the activity carried out in companies and in the divisions of Pinhel, Lousada and Marco de Canaveses (see Modatex de portas abertas).
For these young people, Modatex recognizes that the courses of Pattern Making and Apparel Manufacture, Fashion Design, CAD in Pattern Making, Weaving or Printing and Computing Applied to Design represent the training areas with high interest. And, within the offer of the institution founded in 2011 – following the merging of Citex (Oporto), CIVEC (Lisbon) and Cilan (Covilhã) –, the practical component takes on particular importance.
«Our training, regardless of the course, is essentially practical, since the goal is that our students might be rapidly and efficiently integrated into the job market», says Sónia Pinto, director of Modatex, to Portugal Têxtil. And in the countdown to a day that celebrates the achievements of the Modatex family, the director anticipates a summary. «The goals that led to the creation of this institution were achieved», she summarizes on an assessment «extremely positive».
«In addition to contribute to the best strategic and operational coordination of training in the sector, we are able to respond more effectively to the needs of training, improvement and conversion of individuals and organizations, as well as to closely give technical support to all players in the textile and clothing industry», continues Sónia Pinto, who highlights that the last five years «were marked by the optimization of resources, by increasing of the training offer and the number of trainees, but also by a greater approximation with companies and the opening of training extensions in Lousada, Pinhel and Marco de Canaveses». Result of a partnership with local authorities and with the local employment centres, Modatex, considers its director, is «taking the training to where it is needed and where are companies in need of these qualified and specialized human resources».
But, being an institution that grows side by side with such creative minds, Modatex is looking to the future and it believes that the next five years should improve its offer, because “the textile and clothing sector is growing and there is an increasing need for human resources well prepared, motivated and who might respond to constant technological innovations in terms of techniques, equipment and materials», defends Sónia Pinto, who also notes that Modatex will continue to monitor the evolution of this industry, so that their graduates can adapt and stand out.
«We will also continue to diversify our training offer, so it might not only cover the entire textile industry, but also can meet the different needs of enterprises. For example, given the increase in exports and the internationalization of the sector, many entrepreneurs need international trade technicians specialized in the textile sector. This is one of the courses in which we will continue to invest», she explains.
With students and alumni to whom are recognized the merit in national and international catwalks (see Design de moda: A nova guarda), Modatex’s director highlights names like Mafalda Fonseca, a former trainee of the course of Fashion Design, who has already presented this year, with the support of Portugal Fashion, her collection at London Collections Men and at the Heavy London Showroom (see A montanha e o puzzle). At the International Fashion Showcase, in London, were also two names linked to Modatex: Pedro Neto, a former graduate of Fashion Design, in Oporto, and [UN]T, the brand by Tiago Silva, who also completed the course in Fashion Design at Oporto. «Our students have also participated and won prizes in international competitions like the Style Awards, EuroSkills and the World Skills, or the L’Aiguille D’or Award, Young Creative Chevrolet 2013 or Kaltblut Award», adds Sónia Pinto.
In parallel, Modatex has also invested in exchanges with other European schools in this area, whether with graduates or technicians, and is currently «awaiting the decision on five projects submitted to the Erasmus+ Programme» to continue the construction of international bridges.
The platforms built to showcase the work of emerging talents such as Bloom (Portugal Fashion) or Sangue Novo (ModaLisboa) are also considered «extremely important» for the dissemination of the work of the institution’s students, since «besides give them a first contact with the runway and the aspects related to the preparation of a fashion show, they allow them to show their collections to an interested public and the specialized press», says the director to Portugal Têxtil, who sees the shows as a phase that happens «between training and the job market» and a kind of incubator, in which trainees «can create and consolidate their brands».
And if Friday the institution will stop for «a day of fellowship, sharing among employees of different units of the institution», the coming weeks will be full of activities in the corridors of Modatex, with summer courses in open door days at different branches and courses and workshops in areas such as Development of a Streetwear Collection, Stocks Management and Storage, Garment Dyeing and Finishing or even foreign languages and software tools.
