SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK

SA Fashion Week has been paving the way for the retail sector to support SA designers via our trade shows, designer PopUp Shops and other initiatives. The response from large retailers and departmental stores, has been uninspired and short-sighted. Rather than harnessing the opportunity to build our brands, too many have opted for the easy route of inexpensive, and often tepid, imports. The real and exciting opportunity therefore, exists for the mainstream sector, including the large international chains currently dominating our market, to commit to local production.
I believe equally that government should commit to the fashion industry with a holistic approach to re-ignite the enormous skill set of our textile industry. This sector has been ravaged by a laissez-faire approach to cheap imports. Incentives and strategies to enable erstwhile strong manufacturers to regain their competitive momentum by updating technology and bringing complementary endeavours together.