Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
It was clear Georgeta had the talent and the drive. She had studied at the London College
of Fashion returning home to Moldova she began creating stylish dresses for a handful of
clients. But Georgeta Mir had much bigger dreams: Her own production line.
I didn’t want to be a normal worker in a company. I wanted to do something with my
life.
Georgeta’s first step was to take out a loan to buy this assembly plant. But how to
fill it? how to organize an efficient manufacturing process in this former Soviet republic? Georgeta
contacted a local project from the US Agency for International Development. But USAID in
the fashion industry?
Fashion experts? We’re no fashion experts, but we can help those who are. We can help
people like Georgeta create new businesses that are competitive and that provide new
jobs.
The project brought in a consultant to guide her through each step of the process. How
many cutters she would need and seamstresses, and pressers.
How to train her staff to work on a variety of fabrics and maintain strict quality controls.
The USAID project taught her how to track the output of each employee so she could figure
out what to pay her workers and charge her clients. Finally, with everything in place,
Georgeta’s dream took flight.
We wanted to reach a level where we are proud of what we produce.
USAID, by simply providing some technical advice to this dedicated designer, helped
create 200 new jobs in this fledgling democracy. Domnica Timosh, who’s 46 years-old This
job means a lot to me. I was desperate to find work. Now that I have a stable job I
can afford many things. I have a better more satisfying life.
We are helping hundreds of businesses in Moldova we are helping them with essential skills
to give them and their employees a better future.
Today, Georgeta produces 120,000 pieces of women’s clothing a year for Penny Black,
Max Mara, and, yes, her own label Georgeta.
The dresses, and blouses, and skirts Georgeta makes are now sold in 28 countries.
It’s nice to see them. It’s a feeling of satisfaction. It’s a feeling of pride.
The project gave us the skills we need in marketing. It gave us the opportunity to succeed
because we started in the correct way.