TUKAweb – a leading fashion industry technology bigwig and a division of TUKAgroup – has partnered with Black Design Collective (BDC) to provide an exclusive platform offering affordable online training, fashion design, presentation, and production software to members of the BDC community.
As part of this alliance, TUKAweb will support the amplification of BDC’s mission by providing professional software, manufacturing equipment, and training resources to chapters of BDC as regional Black Design Collective Creative Centers are officially launched nationwide.
Through its Black Design Collective Creative Centers, BDC will establish micro factories offering designers, students and other fashion creatives access to design and apparel production resources as well as public facing facilities such as retail outlets.
The core initiative of the alliance between TUKAweb and BDC is to establish a culture of professional education and training. Educational opportunities and programs are cited as the foundation for economic empowerment and self-sustainability among people of color within the apparel industry.
The programs created through this alliance will consist of the use of both software and hardware technologies. Participants will be taught the complete cycle of the garment making processes from concept to consumer, including but not limited to 3D design, virtual models, pattern design, grading, marker making, plotting, digitizing, and laser cutting.
It’s worth noting here that Black Design Collective was founded in 2018 by Oscar-winning costume designer (Black Panther) Ruth E. Carter, TJ Walker of Cross Colours, Kevan Hall of Kevan Hall Design, and Angela Dean of DeanZign.
“Since 1995, we at TUKAweb and TUKAgroup have had a consistent history of supporting the efforts of important groups like BDC,” said Geoff Taylor, President of TUKAweb, adding, “When talented and motivated individuals are given access to advanced technology and training, there is no limit to where it may take them. It’s critical to provide these resources at the foundational level where this mentorship can be most impactful.”
TUKAweb is a vertical resource for industry professionals, individuals, and educators seeking end-to-end solutions including textile design, apparel CAD/CAM, 3D garment development, online training courses as well as 2D and 3D garment templates.
“I have spent more than half of my professional life navigating the apparel industry. Along the way I have had my fair share of successes and drawbacks. I consider it both a blessing and a privilege to partner with TUKAweb in presenting a future generation of designers and fashion creatives an unsurpassed opportunity to harness these amazing resources to realize their full potential,” said TJ Walker, Vice President of BDC.