The main aim of the South African textile and clothing industry is to use all the natural, human and technological resources at its disposal to make it the preferred international supplier of textiles and apparel. Although the industry is small, it is well placed to make this vision a reality.
Even though after China was included in the World Trade Organisation in 2001, making local manufacturers suffer greatly as South African businesses began importing cheaper textiles and clothing from there, we can turn things around. We are a creative nation and can give rise to the industry by merely applying who we are.
The SA government's proposed rescue plan for the textile and clothing industry, the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP), which was outlined in 2009, has helped to recover the industry in recent years. In spite of the dynamic attempts, the number of industry related jobs decreased from +- 181 000 in 2002 to only 80 000 in 2013.
With statistics from recent years it was found that the domestic industry can be found mostly in the Western Cape & KwaZulu-Natal, with some activity taking place in Gauteng. The SA clothing and textile workers' union said that despite significant investment and government support in recent years, the industry is struggling to move from survivalist to expansionist mode.
What has helped is the Clothing and Textile Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) is an initiative of the Department of the dti, funded by National Government and administered by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). This programme is aimed at improving the global competitiveness of the sector through a range of structured interventions covering all aspects of business operations, from very specific technical skills through to generic business skills. Companies participating in the programme range from small (1-15 employees), medium (16 -50 employees) and larger (51-300) clothing manufacturers with widely differing levels of sophistication.
Should you be interested in this government support, visit: http://www.ctcp.co.za/
Now, that is what the government did to aid the matter - what will truly give life to the South African fashion & textile industry is what 'we' as the nation will do.
What is really encouraging is the way global business is changing. Creating accounts on social media & marketing platforms alone is already a fantastic start to promoting your business. Having the internet to our fingertips & seeing what happens in the streets of our country, we have an absolutely great platform from which to operate. Not only do we see the trends developing, we also have direct access to the market following those trends.
At ADK we have been researching & involving ourselves in the phenomenal shift of things in the South African & African fashion & textile industry. With wholehearted faith & excitement we promote small business sector development in this regard. It is now possible to create unique, inspiring labels & market related businesses in the fashion & textile industry. Next year ADK, of which the date must yet be confirmed, will be hosting a South African Fashion & Textile expo to link, promote & expose as many as possible of this new age fashion related businesses.
An intriguing part of the business evolution, in this regard on the fashion front, is the many business that will yet spring from it. Imagine the open scope of it: networking services between labels, manufacturers, textile designers & artists etc.! With online research & networking we can organise & arrange our own products being exported to the world!
All of us, regardless of who we are - modern or traditional, have it in our reach to change our lives and the South African economy. We can do this by merely starting small businesses, link ourselves with supply chains, making it accessible to the public online & locally with professional marketing/advertising. To start any successful business takes dedication, persistence & faith in your ability, but after that it's simple: In South Africa we just have to start supporting one another.
Remember, what things evolve into will be what 'we' evolve it into.
Credits:
Graphics Collaboration between – The Ninevites; StudioCarreras & Paul Martins
Photography – Theodore Afrika
Sankara Rug in main photo made by Nkuli Mlangeli
#fashion #textile #africa #SouthAfrica #clothing #clothinglabel #textilemanufacturing #business #networking
YES, we can! :)
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