Newsletter No. 10                                                              22 March 2019

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Reviving Cape Town’s clothing and textiles industry

The City of Cape Town has plans to commission a clothing, textile and fashion study in the 2019/20 financial year, to unpack the economic contribution of the sector. The outcome of this study will help to map out the value chain, provide a snapshot of the dynamics of the sector and help to identify potential opportunities and inherent constraints for the local industry. This is according to Alderman James Vos, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management.

Vos was speaking at a site visit to the Western Cape Clothing and Textile Service Centre (Clotex) in Athlone on 18 March. The City of Cape Town provides funding support to the tune of R670,000 to Clotex on an annual basis, which benefits a number of students who are currently undergoing training at the facility. A number of small-, medium-, and micro-enterprises (SMME’s) also benefit from the funding support.

Clotex was established 22 years ago and exists to support and enhance the competitiveness of locally based SMME’s in the clothing and textile value chain. In turn, they are able to contribute to long-term economic growth and employment through value chain alignment and accredited training and development programmes.

Important contributor to export sector

The Cape Town clothing and textile industry contributed R4,4 billion to the metro’s export sector in 2017. According to the City of Cape Town, the industry is the second largest employer within the local manufacturing sector.

“The industry is currently experiencing an emerging global trend known as ‘fast fashion’ that favours the speed at which goods can be brought to market and this is preferred over cheap goods. This trend coupled with the rise of the ethically-minded consumer has created new opportunities in the clothing and textiles industry in South Africa. Cape Town, with its strong retailer presence, is perhaps the best placed domestic city to adapt to these trends and to lead the revival of this important industry,” said Vos.

The clothing and textile industry contributed just below 1% of Cape Town’s total economic output in 2017 and 0,55% of the growth in economic output in a decade, between 2007 and 2017.

“The latter figure speaks to the fact that like other manufacturing sectors, the industry has become less important as a driver of the city’s economy. In the past decade it has become more tertiary sector-orientated which is in line with other large cities in emerging countries,” said Vos.

These figures, however, belie the importance of the industry in two other aspects, namely, its impact on employment and exports. It is also the most labour-intensive sector outside of tourism and the primary sector, meaning that the job return on investment tends to be higher than in other sectors.

Funding skills development, job creation

The City also provides funding support to the following organisations to create a positive environment for job creation and economic growth in the clothing, textile and fashion industry: the Cape Town Fashion Council, the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI,) and the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster. The funding of these organisations goes towards programmes that cater for training, upskilling and cross-skilling, internships and placement as well as the sector promotion and development, among a host of other initiatives.

“The industry is currently exploring a number of opportunities such as the bringing back apparel sourcing locally, away from China that will create opportunities for the domestic industry to reclaim its prominence. The growing value of quick response in the context of ‘fast fashion’ is leading retailers to favour sourcing options form local suppliers,” Vos said.

Adriaana Scholtz, the CEO of Clotex expanded on the importance of ensuring support to youth and the communities that require skilling, upskilling and cross-skilling to enhance the industry workforce development. “The SMME CMT (cut, make and trim) sector requires true recognition in the value chain, support and further development to align with a staggered compliance process and best practice implementation. Amongst others, the need to cluster CMT businesses is paramount to support retailers where centres of excellence and scale of production is required.

“The opportunity also exists to build better relationships between local manufacturers, big retailers and designers,” Scholtz said.

Vos concluded: “I look forward to working closely to revive this once bustling industry. My current portfolio has the potential to ensure that we continue to be the go-to city on the African continent and globally for business, trade, and textiles.”   Bizcommunity

Dame Twiggy is now officially fashion royalty

Born Lesley Hornby, Twiggy became the face of a generation thanks to her elfin features, slim figure and pixie crop hair. Pic: Facebook

It is more than 50 years since aged 16 she was plucked from obscurity to become the face of the Swinging Sixties.

So when Twiggy met Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace to receive a damehood, she jokingly told him it was ‘about time’.

When asked afterwards how she wishes to be referred to, the actress and supermodel, 69, whose real name is Lesley Lawson, said: ‘Officially it’s Dame Lesley but call me Dame Twiggy. I think Dame Twiggy sounds best.’

Of meeting Prince Charles, she said: ‘I’ve met him before. He’s really nice and he said, “Congratulations, about time you got this, we’re all thrilled for you.” It’s amazing when you think of all the things I’ve done in life.’

Dame Twiggy, who wore a white Stella McCartney trouser suit and matching brogues, was honoured for her services to fashion, the arts and charity. She was joined at the ceremony by her second husband Leigh Lawson, 73, whom she married in 1988, and daughter Carly, 40, from her first marriage to Michael Witney, who died in 1983.

Born Lesley Hornby in Neasden, north London, she became the face of a generation thanks to her elfin features, slim figure and pixie crop hair.

‘Obviously what happened to me was a one-off, being a schoolgirl one night and then being world-famous within three months,’ she said. ‘That’s over 50 years ago and I’m still working and still doing things I love to do.’ Daily Mail

Best wishes for a very happy retirement. …

Abisha Peter Tembo started at the dti in September 2009 when he was appointed as Chief Director: Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather in the Industrial Policy Development Division. He is officially retiring at the end of March 2019.

Abisha holds a Master of Science Degree in Textile Science obtained from Leeds University in United Kingdom and obtained his first Bachelor of Science Degree also in Textile Science from Bolton Institute of Technology (now University of Bolton) also in the United Kingdom.

Before joining the dti he worked for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research as a Competence Manager in Port Elizabeth for more than ten years. Prior to joining the CSIR he worked in industry in different capacities which included Operations Director, Quality Assurance Director and General Manager etc. and has over twenty years experience in top management in the industry having started his career as a laboratory assistant in a textile spinning mill.

May you have a fun and bright new chapter ahead of you – one where you will have unlimited time for relaxation. Happy Retirement!

There is no immediate replacement for Abisha’s position at this time, as all posts have been frozen pre-election.

Did you know……..

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Marilyn Monroe owned a dress which was encrusted with 6,000 rhinestones. It sold for $1.26 million at auction in 1999.

The Indians have been credited with originally spinning cotton, and it was so popular that the Romans used to export it from them