More Than a Craft: Supporting Jonathan’s Vision in Togo
Share
Behind every Matue Couture piece are hands, skills, stories, and people.
One of those people is Jonathan N’Guessan, a tailor and craftsman in Lomé, Togo, whom I have had the privilege of working with. Jonathan has helped bring many of my ideas from sketches and fabrics into finished garments. Over time, our collaboration has also allowed me to see something beyond his craftsmanship: his desire to pass on what he has learned.
After more than 25 years working in fashion, sewing, and vocational training, Jonathan has a vision for what comes next.
A Place to Learn. A Skill for Life.
Jonathan wants to establish the N’Gues Style vocational training center in Lomé, Togo, a place where young people from economically vulnerable backgrounds can receive free, professional training in sewing and fashion.
The program is intended to serve young people ages 16 to 35, particularly those from low-income families, young people who have left school early, and those who are unemployed and searching for a path toward a sustainable livelihood.
His long-term vision is to train 500 young people every three years.
But this project is about much more than teaching someone how to sew.
It is about giving someone a skill they can carry with them for life.
A young person who learns a trade can find employment, create something of their own, support a family, and eventually pass that knowledge to someone else.
That is what makes Jonathan's vision so meaningful to me.
Why I Chose to Support This Project
At Matue Couture, I talk often about craftsmanship.
For me, craftsmanship is not simply about creating something beautiful by hand. It is also about preserving knowledge.
Many of the skills behind the clothing and textiles we admire exist because someone took the time to teach another person. Knowledge moved from one pair of hands to the next, sometimes across generations.
Jonathan understands that responsibility.
Instead of keeping more than two decades of experience to himself, he wants to use it to create opportunities for others.
When he shared this project with me, I knew I wanted to help.
Helping Bring the Vision to Life
To help Jonathan move this project from an idea into a working training center, I have created a fundraiser on his behalf.
The funds raised will help establish and equip the N’Gues Style training center, including sewing and production equipment, cutting and work tables, classroom equipment, technology and design tools, and other resources needed to prepare the space for students.
I am organizing the fundraiser on Jonathan's behalf. Funds raised through the campaign will be received by me in the United States and transferred directly to Jonathan to support the development of the training center in Lomé.
Building Something That Can Continue
One of the things I appreciate most about Jonathan's plan is that his goal is not to create a project that depends indefinitely on donations.
The longer-term plan includes producing small collections created through the training program, supervised custom orders, paid intensive courses, and professional services. Revenue generated through these activities can then help support scholarships, equipment, and the continued operation of the center.
The goal is to create a cycle:
Learn. Create. Earn. Teach.
And then give another young person the opportunity to do the same.
How You Can Help
If Jonathan's vision speaks to you, I invite you to support it.
You can contribute directly through the GoFundMe campaign. Every contribution, regardless of size, brings the project one step closer to welcoming its first students.
And if donating isn't possible right now, sharing the project is equally meaningful. Send the fundraiser to a friend, share it with your community, or introduce it to someone who believes in vocational education, African craftsmanship, or creating economic opportunities for young people.
Sometimes one introduction can open an unexpected door.
Read Jonathan's Complete Project
Jonathan originally developed his project proposal in French, outlining his vision for the training center, the people it will serve, its educational approach, equipment needs, and plans for long-term sustainability.
For those who would like to learn more, his original proposal is available below.
READ THE FULL PROJECT in FRENCH PDF
One Skill Can Change a Future
When we support craftsmanship, we aren't only preserving beautiful traditions.
We are supporting the people who carry those skills.
And when those people choose to teach others, the impact can extend far beyond one garment, one workshop, or even one generation.
Jonathan has spent decades building his craft.
Now he wants to use that experience to open a door for others.
I hope you'll help me give him the opportunity to do it.
Simone Talla
Founder & Creative Director
Matue Couture