Cape Town - South Africa is on a drive to “buy local” and support home-grown industries as it strives to revive the economy.
The clothing and textile industry had nosedived even before the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was felt.
Although it once employed 250 000 people, by 2001 the number of workers in clothing production had dwindled due to the market being flooded by cheaper imports.
This meant that people trained in manufacturing the textiles needed to make clothes have also been left redundant.
Now only 80 000 are participating in the industry.
A small clothing factory in the Western Cape owned by Faldelah Joseph had to close its doors in 2006, forcing 15 skilled cutters and seamstresses into the unemployment line.
Joseph’s factory produced 1 000 ladies’ outerwear garments a month.
In 2009, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, launched the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme.
It allocated R7.1 billion to the clothing industry for that financial year, which was meant to revitalise the clothing and textiles industry.
The initiative even had the buy-in from major retailers, which committed to stock more locally produced clothing. There has now been a boom in people starting up their clothing companies from home; but without the backing of skilled sewers or a marketing team.
The SPAR Cape Town Ramadaan and Lifestyle Expo provide entrepreneurs with the ideal platform from which to grow their customer base.
And those just starting will be exposed to the throngs of patrons that support the event at the Green Point Track from March 25 to 27.