South Africa
Is there a plan for SA apparel sector?
Does the government really have a plan for South Africa’s clothing and textile industry sectors? Historical analysis reflects that government policies are full of contradictions leaving one to wonder if it is serious about finding equitable and sustainable solutions to "save the industry."
On the 25th February 2008 textile manufacturer, Frame Textiles requested government intervention "to save the industry" which is a vital job creation sector. Walter Simeoni, the MD of Frame Textiles, a subsidiary of the Seardel group called for the "implementation of the Customised Sector Programme (CSP)." It is understood that the Department of Trade and Industry is "putting the finishing touches to an action plan" that may be ready at the end of March.
In March 2006, the DTI's Shareen Osman said that the government was working on a strategic vision for the industry. Two years later and ten months before the quotas end, they are still working on a plan. If this sector is so important to employment, why is there such procrastination in implementing any collective restructuring plan?
In August 2007, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa said that the CSP had been finalised but in February 2008, the DTI is still working on plans. One of the aims of the CSP is the encouragement and facilitation for capital investment and export growth.
Six months later, South Africa has decided not to sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) dealing a "blow to the local clothing and textile industry." This may result in manufacturers relocating to new geographical spaces such as Swaziland and Lesotho who have more relaxed rules of origin resulting in further loss of jobs in South Africa.
Statistics reflect a decline in employment in the textile sector from nearly 71000 in 2003 to 50 000 in 2006 with imported clothing increasing from 139 million units in 2001 to 567 million units in 2006. In March 2007, the Duty Credit Certificate Scheme expired with no plans to replace it creating further difficulty for exporters.
It is my hypothesis that government has no clear vision and it needs to be accountable for its inadequate implementation of policies directed towards the recovery of the clothing and textile sectors.
FEATURE PROFILE
A cutting-edge fusion of fine art and fashion design
Painting-on-fabric techniques under the hand of Steve Mandy have brought a new dimension of creative interpretation to local fashion. His unique imaginative vision is providing South African designers with a distinctive means of embellishing their creations that fuses fine art with a special visual and textural form of branding.
The world of fashion opened up for him when he was commissioned to do some work on a suit for Durban's award-winning designer Kevin Ellis, with whom he participated in the 2006 MTN Durban Fashion Week. The outfit won the award for best design at the Cape Town J & B Met Fashion Show.
His service to the South African design community is growing every day, and it involves not only fashioning new visual understandings of apparel as a prepared canvas, but also extending his view of creative partnership to support the work process of prominent and emerging fashion designers. "Designers face enormous pressure to create better garments each year," he explains. "Each season I help them to transcend this stress by taking them across the seams' to develop new forms of wearable art".
Through colour, line, iconic imagery and painted script, Mandy produces bespoke visual messaging on T-shirts, shirts, jackets, dresses and pants. Many of his designer clients are now incorporating additional layers of embellishment to Mandy's components by beading and embroidering his imagery, unveiling a limitless scope of uniquely South African design terrain. Mandy has worked with a number of well-known designers such as Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Iqbal Hoosain of the Jaxx label, Francois Vedemme and for the Ifa Lethu Heritage Collection, to name a few.
He can produce 20 units a day, and, using special paints that are durable and washable can fulfill the tight delivery schedules and quality standards that are crucial to commercial success in the fashion industry. (see the entire article click on
http://redressconsultancy.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-style-for-south-african-fashion.html
Contact Steve Mandy at:
Cell: 082 441 2922
E-mail: steve@stevemandy.com
_____________________________________________________________
There has been some interesting responses and debates on our web under the label ( Have Your Say.) With South African Fashion Weeks beginning this month most of the debate has been around these events. Here are some comments.
I have just completed (2007) my diploma in fashion from a good fashion college in CT. The last two years I have gone to the CT fashion week and am keen to enter this year but I have some questions. I read that all these fashion events in Cape Town, JHB, Durban etc are doing good for the designers. But there is no information on their websites as to the real benefits taking part in these events [bring] for fashion designers. I know designers gets publicity but what about orders?
I also want to know why we can't show the same design shown in Durban or Cape Town at the SA Fashion Week – what is the reason for this?
I am Sanlam SAFW supporter and agree with policies relating to designers not showing the same products at ALL the fashion weeks we have in SA. Lost count of how many there are. Is not the goal of taking part in fashion weeks to show the market the designer's ability to produce a multitude of designs? I am sure the public and media do not want to see the same range by the same designer at all the fashion events.
I support all the fashion events and think the split in the fashion camps has done more damage to the industry. But what concerns me is the transparency of AFI when it comes to showcasing the participant designers compared to Sanlam SAFW. Why does Sanlam SAFW not provide contact details of the designers?
Responding about retailers supporting local designers the following comment was made.
Most retailers of this size, [placing large orders] want the "flexibility" to pay for the order well after the goods have been delivered, tagged and sold. Six to nine months is their preference. Forget it. They want the "flexibility" to use small designers to fund their enterprises. Either that or you have to get a factor, meaning another 20% overhead lopped onto everything else which means, you'll now have to go offshore to produce if you weren't in the first place
Stick with smaller retailers who pay at delivery or net 30. Avoid department stores.
Does the government really have a plan for South Africa’s clothing and textile industry sectors? Historical analysis reflects that government policies are full of contradictions leaving one to wonder if it is serious about finding equitable and sustainable solutions to "save the industry."
On the 25th February 2008 textile manufacturer, Frame Textiles requested government intervention "to save the industry" which is a vital job creation sector. Walter Simeoni, the MD of Frame Textiles, a subsidiary of the Seardel group called for the "implementation of the Customised Sector Programme (CSP)." It is understood that the Department of Trade and Industry is "putting the finishing touches to an action plan" that may be ready at the end of March.
In March 2006, the DTI's Shareen Osman said that the government was working on a strategic vision for the industry. Two years later and ten months before the quotas end, they are still working on a plan. If this sector is so important to employment, why is there such procrastination in implementing any collective restructuring plan?
In August 2007, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa said that the CSP had been finalised but in February 2008, the DTI is still working on plans. One of the aims of the CSP is the encouragement and facilitation for capital investment and export growth.
Six months later, South Africa has decided not to sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) dealing a "blow to the local clothing and textile industry." This may result in manufacturers relocating to new geographical spaces such as Swaziland and Lesotho who have more relaxed rules of origin resulting in further loss of jobs in South Africa.
Statistics reflect a decline in employment in the textile sector from nearly 71000 in 2003 to 50 000 in 2006 with imported clothing increasing from 139 million units in 2001 to 567 million units in 2006. In March 2007, the Duty Credit Certificate Scheme expired with no plans to replace it creating further difficulty for exporters.
It is my hypothesis that government has no clear vision and it needs to be accountable for its inadequate implementation of policies directed towards the recovery of the clothing and textile sectors.
FEATURE PROFILE
A cutting-edge fusion of fine art and fashion design
Painting-on-fabric techniques under the hand of Steve Mandy have brought a new dimension of creative interpretation to local fashion. His unique imaginative vision is providing South African designers with a distinctive means of embellishing their creations that fuses fine art with a special visual and textural form of branding.
The world of fashion opened up for him when he was commissioned to do some work on a suit for Durban's award-winning designer Kevin Ellis, with whom he participated in the 2006 MTN Durban Fashion Week. The outfit won the award for best design at the Cape Town J & B Met Fashion Show.
His service to the South African design community is growing every day, and it involves not only fashioning new visual understandings of apparel as a prepared canvas, but also extending his view of creative partnership to support the work process of prominent and emerging fashion designers. "Designers face enormous pressure to create better garments each year," he explains. "Each season I help them to transcend this stress by taking them across the seams' to develop new forms of wearable art".
Through colour, line, iconic imagery and painted script, Mandy produces bespoke visual messaging on T-shirts, shirts, jackets, dresses and pants. Many of his designer clients are now incorporating additional layers of embellishment to Mandy's components by beading and embroidering his imagery, unveiling a limitless scope of uniquely South African design terrain. Mandy has worked with a number of well-known designers such as Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Iqbal Hoosain of the Jaxx label, Francois Vedemme and for the Ifa Lethu Heritage Collection, to name a few.
He can produce 20 units a day, and, using special paints that are durable and washable can fulfill the tight delivery schedules and quality standards that are crucial to commercial success in the fashion industry. (see the entire article click on
http://redressconsultancy.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-style-for-south-african-fashion.html
Contact Steve Mandy at:
Cell: 082 441 2922
E-mail: steve@stevemandy.com
_____________________________________________________________
There has been some interesting responses and debates on our web under the label ( Have Your Say.) With South African Fashion Weeks beginning this month most of the debate has been around these events. Here are some comments.
I have just completed (2007) my diploma in fashion from a good fashion college in CT. The last two years I have gone to the CT fashion week and am keen to enter this year but I have some questions. I read that all these fashion events in Cape Town, JHB, Durban etc are doing good for the designers. But there is no information on their websites as to the real benefits taking part in these events [bring] for fashion designers. I know designers gets publicity but what about orders?
I also want to know why we can't show the same design shown in Durban or Cape Town at the SA Fashion Week – what is the reason for this?
I am Sanlam SAFW supporter and agree with policies relating to designers not showing the same products at ALL the fashion weeks we have in SA. Lost count of how many there are. Is not the goal of taking part in fashion weeks to show the market the designer's ability to produce a multitude of designs? I am sure the public and media do not want to see the same range by the same designer at all the fashion events.
I support all the fashion events and think the split in the fashion camps has done more damage to the industry. But what concerns me is the transparency of AFI when it comes to showcasing the participant designers compared to Sanlam SAFW. Why does Sanlam SAFW not provide contact details of the designers?
Responding about retailers supporting local designers the following comment was made.
Most retailers of this size, [placing large orders] want the "flexibility" to pay for the order well after the goods have been delivered, tagged and sold. Six to nine months is their preference. Forget it. They want the "flexibility" to use small designers to fund their enterprises. Either that or you have to get a factor, meaning another 20% overhead lopped onto everything else which means, you'll now have to go offshore to produce if you weren't in the first place
Stick with smaller retailers who pay at delivery or net 30. Avoid department stores.
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