Opuwo:About 20 women tailors from Opuwo and surrounding villages received industrial sewing and embroidery machines, fabrics, and other equipment on Friday. The donation was made by the Office of the Kunene Governor to enhance production and improve the livelihoods of these women.

According to Namibia Press Agency , the donated equipment supports West-Best Fashions, a tailoring initiative that began operations on November 1, 2026. This initiative brings together young and older women who previously worked independently. The new equipment addresses the group's long-standing need for modern machinery, moving away from old, hand-operated sewing machines that limited their production capabilities.

West-Best Fashions Supervisor Verihiva Tjipundi expressed that the group had sought assistance from various offices over the years before receiving support from the Governor’s Office. She highlighted that the new equipment will enable the women to increase production, expand their business, and create opportunities to support other community members. Access to modern industrial machines will simplify their work, allowing them to produce more items in less time.

The donation includes four industrial sewing machines, two industrial overlock machines, an industrial embroidery machine, fabrics, threads, and other essential tailoring accessories. This equipment is expected to improve both the quality and quantity of products manufactured by the enterprise, enabling the women to take on more tailoring orders.

By operating under one enterprise, the beneficiaries will share skills and experiences, improving their technical abilities and strengthening their business operations. West-Best Fashions aims to establish itself as a sustainable income-generating enterprise through clothing production and other tailoring services, contributing to women's economic empowerment by promoting collective entrepreneurship.

The support enables the women to transition from individual operations to a more robust enterprise capable of serving customers in Opuwo and surrounding communities. The initiative is expected to enhance the beneficiaries' economic independence and contribute to local economic development.