As South Africa enters the second phase of the country’s Covid-19 lockdown – Level 4, which includes some easing of the initial restrictions on business and movement – the supply chain industry faces new challenges, according to SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management. These may impact the availability of winter clothing and homeware, SAPICS notes. “Businesses not supplying essential goods have had to find short-term storage solutions for their products during the lockdown. Some were able to move their products to bonded storage facilities to delay the payment…
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Cheap fashion comes at high price for local clothing sector
In a shop brimming with rails of high-end clothing brands, shoppers browse through an array of international labels selling at massively discounted prices. The retailer is one of the growing outlets operated by parallel importers, selling European high street fashion and names such as Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Ted Baker to local consumers. It’s a business that has disrupted the local retail space, presenting further challenges to the already distressed local clothing manufacturing sector. Parallel importers such Discount My Fashion (DMF) and Fashion Brand Outlet (FBO) have set up…
Read MoreWomen entrepreneurs follow passion to take advantage of the retail market
CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s rising unemployment rate calls for entrepreneurship as one of the many measures to assist in creating more job opportunities, which could also help in fighting crime and poverty in the country. Four women entrepreneurs from Gauteng and Cape Town responded to the call by following their passions and taking advantage of the retail market while creating jobs and inspiring other women entrepreneurs looking to break barriers in the market. Ntombenhle Khathwane, from Gauteng and owner of AfroBotanics started the business to empower African women to…
Read MoreFootgear buys Edgars Active as Edcon downscaling continues
SA’s largest non-food retailer Edcon is set to reduce its size further with the sale of its 104-store Edgars Active and High Key chain to Cape Town-based retailer Footgear for an undisclosed amount. The deal was announced by Footgear and Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE) on Monday. OMPE last month became a majority shareholder in Footgear, a growing player in the branded footwear retail arena with 63 stores largely in the Western Cape and Gauteng. The deal will see Edcon’s total retail footprint decline to around 1 100 stores…
Read MoreSouth African Clothing and Footwear Companies to Showcase their Products at Source Africa Exhibition in Cape Town
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will host South African clothing, textiles, leather and footwear companies at the Source Africa exhibition scheduled to take place in Cape Town, Western Cape from 12-14 June 2019. The companies will showcase their proudly South African made products and also participate in a series of workshops and fashion shows. Source Africa is the premier sourcing event on the African continent which brings together suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and buyers all under one roof. The exhibition also showcases products and services across all…
Read MoreSA designer Palesa Mokubung becomes first African to go global in H&M deal
JOHANNESBURG- Swedish multinational clothing retailer H&M on Tuesday announced its first African collaboration with South African designer Palesa Mokubung’s Mantsho label. Mantsho will be available in all South African stores, exclusive flagship stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, Chile and Israel, as well as all H&M online markets from 15 August. Mantsho is known for its vibrant fabrics, bold and edgy designs with distinct silhouettes and structures. H&M assortment manager for collaborations and special collections Pernilla Wohlfahrt said Makubonga was an…
Read MoreFootwear manufacturer set to take big step
DURBAN – A Chatsworth-based manufacturer of ladies’ footwear is setting its sights on the export market.Allimor Footwear, which manufactures ladies footwear for the mass market, has survived tough economic conditions to stay in business. The small family business was started in 1991 by Morris Marimuthoo, a former boilermaker who turned into a professional dressmaker and an astute businessman. Initially, the small factory produced approximately 1 000 pairs of shoes a day. With the growth of the business over the past 28 years, the factory now manufactures more than 6 000…
Read MoreDTI to launch R81m black-owned industrialist textile firm in KZN
A statement issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that African Bespoke Apparel (ABA) operates within the textile, clothing and footwear sector and had created about 450 job opportunities within the first four months of operation. ABA was approved a funding grant of R35.5 million by DTI’s Black Industrial Scheme (BIS). The project is co-funded by the KwaZulu-Natal government’s growth fund. “The BIS supported Africa Bespoke Apparel to acquire the new equipment which aimed at simplifying and improving the production process with increased flexibility and safety,…
Read MoreGovernment to unveil clothing, textile master plan
Government will soon announce a master plan aimed at growing the clothing, textile, footwear and leather retail value chain. “Our department has developed a master plan to grow the clothing, textile, footwear and leather retail value-chain. The plan, which is aimed at creating 60 000 jobs in the sector and enhance competition, will soon be announced,” said Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe on Tuesday. The Deputy Minister was speaking at the opening of Africa Bespoke Apparel (ABA) factory in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. The firm is a beneficiary of the…
Read MoreSA companies explore opportunities in Tunisia, Algeria
A delegation of South African companies is currently on a trade and investment mission in Tunisia and Algeria, where they are exploring export markets. The trade and investment mission, which is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), will serve to promote South African products and service offerings, while creating partnerships between the business communities of the respective countries. The trade mission, which got underway on Sunday, will conclude on Thursday. Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said the mission is aimed at advancing Tunisia, Algeria and…
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