A Bankstown sports coach is challenging stereotypes in the fashion industry by harnessing a TAFE NSW fashion course to help his community launch a clothing business.

Setaleki ‘Seta’ Teuhema is a basketball coach at Kings School who, after becoming tired of buying new sport shorts that ripped constantly, used the lockdown period to enrol in a Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology at TAFE NSW Lidcombe so he could repair his own sportswear.

What started as a hobby for 46-year-old Seta (pictured right) as now transformed into an international business idea for his community back in Tonga. 

Seta aid “I never realised how much we need practical, hands-on skills like sewing simple garments, especially in a climate like this where material face masks are the new normal.”

“I’m planning to return to my home country of Tonga in the near future to teach Basketball and I want to help my community learn how to sew and feel confident mending their own clothes and sports gear with the skills I have acquired,” he said.

Seta also learnt how to make face masks in line with NSW Health Guidelines and use natural dyes like beetroot juice and coffee to color the masks in his TAFE NSW class.

Seta is taking advantage of the clothing retail industry, which is estimated to be worth $16.5 billion in Australia alone.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Fashion, Fiona Lloyd, said the course was great for people looking to get a head start in the industry.

“The Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology offers students an introduction to the exciting world of fashion, which will challenge them to reconsider the way they think about the design process,” Ms Lloyd said.

“Students learn hands-on skills like how to design, construct a garment, patternmaking, fabric identification as well as an introduction to computer aided design.”

To enrol or enquire about the fashion courses offered at TAFE NSW, visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner, 0456 170 211