White lace, silk and carefully sewn beads – a wedding dress has always carried a special significance, symbolising one of the most important days in a person’s life. Behind every gown, however, lies a long and demanding process that requires knowledge, craftsmanship and skill. It was precisely this process that brought together the company Dress on Top and students from the “Spasoje Raspopović” Secondary Vocational School. The result of their collaboration can still be seen today at weddings and celebrations across Montenegro.
With the support of the European Union, a collection of six wedding dresses was created by students and the Dress on Top team using materials purchased in Montenegro. The dresses were created gradually through fashion design workshops, where students incorporated their newly acquired knowledge into every stitch of the collection.
“As part of the project, a fashion design workshop was organised, through which knowledge was passed on to the students who participated in creating the collection. The entire process lasted about five months,” explained Milica Bušković from Dress on Top.
At the same time, the company improved its working conditions by purchasing professional equipment for washing and ironing wedding dresses as part of the project. Bušković said that the new equipment significantly changed the company’s way of working.
“We received a professional dry-cleaning machine for treating wedding dresses and a professional iron. Previously, we outsourced this part of the work, but now we do it ourselves,” said Bušković.
She added that the project’s impact is still visible today through the company’s way of working and the results it has achieved.
“Honestly, looking back now, we have progressed in every respect thanks to this project. Above all, we gained practical knowledge. The collection we created at the time is still available for rent in our salon. The dresses have been worn many times and the feedback has been very positive,” Bušković said.
In addition to its production results, the project also led to new business contacts, cooperation with suppliers and the company’s first independent fashion show.
“We established contacts with fabric suppliers we had not worked with before, and that cooperation has continued. We also organised our own fashion show, which gave us another opportunity to present our work and learn a great deal,” she said.
Bušković stressed that gaining experience in project management was another important benefit for the team.
“We learned what project planning and implementation look like, how activities are monitored and how everything is carried out in stages. We will certainly continue following future opportunities, and we encourage everyone to apply. Even if you are not selected, you can learn a great deal from the application process itself,” Bušković concluded.
The Montenegrin Bridal Brands for New Generations project is one of nine projects supported under the European Union grant scheme Increasing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises through Support to Women and Youth Entrepreneurship, which aims to strengthen competitiveness, develop skills and foster cooperation between businesses and the education sector. The total value of the project was €19,800, of which the European Union provided €17,820 in funding.