Mr Price JumpStart Opens Pattern Making Training Programme 2026

Mr Price JumpStart has introduced the Pattern Making Training Programme 2026, an intensive six-month programme based in Durban that is designed to help solve one of South Africa’s biggest challenges in the clothing and textile space: a serious shortage of skilled pattern makers in the manufacturing sector.

And the best part? This programme is not just theory. It’s structured to give you the real training and real exposure that employers are looking for.

Quick Overview

Programme Name: Mr Price JumpStart Pattern Making Training Programme (PMP) 2026
Programme Duration: 6 months
Location: Durban (training is Durban-based)
Programme Focus: Pattern making for clothing manufacturing and fashion production
Target Group: Unemployed South African youth (18–33 years old)
Requirement: Diploma/Degree OR final year student in Fashion/Clothing Production (or related qualification)
Training Format:

2 weeks classroom theory per month
2 weeks practical workplace exposure per month

Key Learning Areas Include:
Manual pattern making, tech packs, fabrics & fibres, garment construction, quality assurance, sustainability, manufacturing principles, trends & range development, store experience, and work readiness preparation.

How to Apply: Apply online and submit supporting documents (ID + qualifications or academic record)

What Exactly Is Pattern Making?

Pattern making is the technical process of creating templates (patterns) that are used to cut fabric and build garments.

Think of it like this:

A fashion designer may sketch a dress or jacket, but a pattern maker takes that sketch and creates the actual blueprint that allows that item to be produced in real life.

Pattern makers make sure the garment:

Fits properly
Has correct measurements
Can be stitched together correctly
Can be reproduced consistently (for mass production)
Minimises fabric waste
Meets quality standards

So if you love fashion but you’re more interested in the “how it’s made” side of the industry, pattern making is a powerful career choice.

What the Mr Price JumpStart Pattern Making Programme Offers You

This programme is described as an intensive six-month journey, and that’s important to understand. It means you won’t just do casual lessons. You’ll be trained in a structured, professional way to become an industry-ready pattern maker.

Here’s what makes the programme powerful:

1) It’s built for employment

The programme enhances technical skills and prepares interns for real pattern-making roles in manufacturing.

2) You learn both manual and digital skills

Modern manufacturing requires pattern makers who can work with both traditional methods and software.

3) You gain real industry exposure

Every month includes:

2 weeks classroom theory
2 weeks practical work experience

That combination helps you learn faster and build confidence.

4) You work alongside experienced professionals

Learning directly from skilled pattern makers means you don’t just gain information—you gain real working habits and industry standards.

What You Will Learn in the Programme

One of the best things about this programme is the range of skills you’ll walk away with. It’s not only pattern making. It’s a full career development package for fashion manufacturing.

Core Technical Skills

1) Manual Pattern Making

You will learn how to develop patterns by hand with accuracy and professional technique.

2) Tech Packs

A tech pack is a document that provides all the information needed for production, such as:

garment specifications
measurements
fabric details
stitching instructions
trims and finishing details

Tech packs are highly valuable skills in the industry because they make manufacturing clear and consistent.

3) Fabrics and Fibres

Understanding textiles helps you choose the correct materials and pattern adjustments for the garment to work properly.

4) Garment Construction

This teaches you how clothing pieces come together, helping you design better patterns that are easier to assemble and produce.

5) Quality Assurance

Manufacturing is strict about quality because a small error in a pattern can affect hundreds or thousands of garments. You’ll learn how to maintain standards and prevent mistakes.

Manufacturing and Industry Knowledge

6) Foundational Skills

These include professional skills that help you work effectively in a production environment.

7) Principles in Manufacturing

You’ll learn how clothing manufacturing operates, including the workflow, production planning, and problem-solving.

8) Critical Path

This is about understanding timelines and production planning—from design to final product.

9) Raw Materials

You’ll understand what materials go into garment production and how they affect costs, durability, and quality.

Fashion Industry Development Skills

10) Trend and Range Development

This gives you insight into how fashion brands plan seasonal products, ranges, and collections.

11) Quality

You’ll learn what “quality” really means in the clothing industry and how it’s maintained from start to finish.

12) Store Experience

This is a powerful addition because it connects the production side of fashion to the customer side—what people buy, why they buy it, and how products perform in real life.

Sustainability and Work Readiness

13) Sustainability

Sustainable practices in pattern making can reduce waste and improve efficiency. This makes you more valuable in a modern manufacturing industry.

14) Preparation for the World of Work

This includes employability skills like communication, teamwork, professionalism, and confidence-building so you can transition into real roles.

Where the Training Takes Place

The programme is Durban-based, meaning applicants must be comfortable with the training being hosted in Durban.

Durban is one of South Africa’s most important hubs for clothing and textile manufacturing, so this location makes sense because it increases the chances of real industry exposure and partnerships.

Basic Requirements (Who Can Apply?)

Mr Price JumpStart is specifically looking for interns who meet these requirements:

You must be:

South African
Aged 18–33 years
Unemployed
Have no criminal record
Have a diploma or degree OR be a final-year student in:
- Clothing production
- Fashion design
- OR a related qualification

This is important: the programme targets youth who already have a foundation in fashion/clothing studies, but need the technical pattern making skills and real-world exposure to become employable.

How to Apply

To apply, you must:

Step 1: Apply online

APPLY FOR THE MR PRICE JUMPSTART PATTERN MAKING TRAINING PROGRAMME 2026 HERE

Step 2: Upload supporting documents

You must submit:

Copy of your ID
Copies of your qualifications (if graduated) OR
Academic record (if not graduated yet)

Step 3: Wait for feedback

Mr Price JumpStart will contact you if your application is successful.

Tip: Make sure your documents are clear, certified (if required), and saved properly (PDF format usually works best).

How Edupstairs Helps You Prepare

At Edupstairs, we don’t just post opportunities—we help you win them.

Recommended Tools:

Edupstairs Advice (How to Boost Your Chances of Getting Selected)

Let’s be honest: opportunities like these are competitive. Many young people will apply, but only a few will be selected.

Here’s how you can stand out:

1) Make your application documents clean and professional

Your ID and academic record must be readable. Don’t upload blurry photos.

2) Add a simple CV even if it’s not requested

A short CV that includes:

your qualification
relevant projects
software skills (if any)
short career objective

…can help you look more serious.

3) Show proof of interest in manufacturing (not only fashion “glamour”)

Pattern making is technical. If your motivation shows you want to learn the real work, you’ll stand out.

4) Build a mini portfolio

If you’ve made:

patterns
sample garments
tech packs
design sketches

Mention it in your application or CV.

5) Prepare for communication and teamwork

Mr Price JumpStart values interns who can collaborate and communicate clearly. Practice explaining your ideas simply and confidently.

Career Growth Path After This Programme (What Happens Next?)

This is the question every serious applicant should ask:
“After 6 months, what can I become?”

The good news is that pattern making is not a dead-end skill. It’s a career with strong growth potential in fashion and manufacturing.

After completing this programme, you may qualify for roles such as:

Junior Pattern Maker
Pattern Making Assistant
Garment Technologist Assistant
Product Development Assistant
Sample Room Assistant
Quality Assurance Assistant (Clothing Production)
Production Support / Manufacturing Support Staff

With experience, you can grow into:

Pattern Maker (Intermediate to Senior)
Digital Pattern Maker (Software-focused)
Garment Technologist
Production Planner
Product Developer
Quality Controller / QA Supervisor
Factory Supervisor (Clothing Production)

Long-term opportunities (big career wins)

If you build your portfolio and keep learning, you can even move into:

launching your own clothing line with strong technical skills
consulting for small clothing manufacturers
freelancing as a pattern maker
working for established brands and suppliers

Pattern making is one of the rare skills that can lead to both employment and entrepreneurship.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Is this programme only for people in Durban?

The training is Durban-based, so you must be able to attend in Durban.

2) How long is the programme?

It is a six-month programme.

3) Do I need experience to apply?

You don’t need work experience, but you must have a diploma/degree or be in your final year in fashion/clothing production (or related).

4) What age group is allowed to apply?

Applicants must be 18–33 years old.

5) Can I apply if I have a criminal record?

No. The requirement states applicants must have no criminal record.

6) What will I learn during the programme?

You will learn a full set of skills including:
manual pattern making, tech packs, fabrics, garment construction, quality assurance, manufacturing principles, sustainability, store exposure, and work readiness.

7) Will Mr Price JumpStart contact everyone who applies?

No. They will contact you if your application is successful.

8) Is this programme good for employment?

Yes—this programme is designed to create industry-ready pattern makers, a skill that is in demand in manufacturing.

CLOSING DATE: NOT SPECIFIED

You can also:

Application Outcome Tracker (anonymous)

No names collected. This helps future applicants understand real-world timelines.

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Disclaimers

Edupstairs is not affiliated with Mr Price JumpStart. We share opportunities to help South African youth access skills and employment pathways.
Always apply using the official application platform and submit only the documents required.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection.
Programme details may change at the discretion of the organisers.

EDUPSTAIRS IS A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION NPO No: 232 – 182, PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO): 930066984. EDUPSTAIRS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY OR FORM, SOLICIT MONEY OR CV’S FROM PEOPLE FOR JOBS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT FRAUD. USE THE EDUPSTAIRS SCAM DETECTOR TOOL TO SPOT A SCAM BEFORE YOU APPLY

Edupstairs TrustScore™

100 /100

Verified / Low Risk This is an evidence-based risk assessment to help applicants verify opportunities.

OrganisationMr Price Foundation

SourceOfficial website/career portal

Open source link

Apply viaOnline portal

ReferenceMr Price JumpStart Programme 2026

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