Studio NAFA Outreach Program Finds Success In Kastoria
The first Studio NAFA Outreach workshop to be held in Greece debuted in Kastoria on December 6th. A two-day workshop was held in co-operation with the Hellenic Association of Furriers and took place in their office complex in Kastoria.
Over 40 designers and technicians from member companies of both the Hellenic Association of Furriers and the Kastoria Fur Association were in attendance.
A welcome and brief introduction to NAFA by Bobby Poulios, Vice President of Buyer Relations opened the program. This was followed by a presentation by Diane Benedetti, Sr. Vice President for Advertising and Promotions, that related NAFA’s worldwide activities and the importance of the events and marketing strategies to the Greek fur trade.
A comprehensive NAFA product demonstration by Mr. Poulios then set the stage of the start of the creative portion of the workshop. Professor Vasilis Kardasis, Creative Director of Studio NAFA, introduced participants to an alternative way to approach design.
Professor’s Kardasis’ theme of “Lines” challenged everyone to create interesting new shapes and forms emanating for the simplicity of a line. By late afternoon, there were, indeed, forms taking shape that could be translated into fur designs.
Day two of the workshop saw Roberto Contiero, a well-known and respected fur designer and craftsman from Torino, Italy, take the lead to demonstrate fur concepts for cutting and sewing.
Participants were then invited to consider the assortment of NAFA furs prepared for their use. The wild furs of beaver, both sheared and long hair, along with natural and dyed raccoons, red foxes and coyotes were combined with Black NAFA and mutation minks to in a variety of techniques to bring the inspired designs to fruition.
In addition to the skilled artisans in attendance at the workshop, a group of local students visited the workshop to learn more about the fur trade and opportunities within the industry.
To share this special event with others in Kastoria, local television, radio and print media took part in the activities through interviews with Association Directors and the NAFA team.
The feeling of all who attended Studio NAFA’s Outreach Program and those who took part in the preparation and delivery of the activities was one of synergy. The sharing of knowledge and ideas between novices and masters is a way for future generations inherit the skills of the fur industry and take it into the future with confidence and pride.