Textile business sector overview South Africa, Reports of south african garment and textile business (2024)

FAQs

What is the overview of the textile industry in South Africa? ›

Textile industry overview

Textiles and fabrics are the 11th most exported goods from the country and the sector accounts for 8% of South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP). This versatile sector has a unique blend of high-tech, modern manufacturing methods combined with traditional production processes.

The organized textile industry in India is characterized by the use of capital-intensive technology for the mass production of textile products and includes spinning, weaving, processing, and apparel manufacturing.

Many South African textile mills closed when the market was flooded with cheap, imported clothing at the end of apartheid when international trade restrictions were lifted. This reduced the availability of textiles for use in South African clothing manufacturing, which increased the cost of locally made products.

One of the greatest challenges in the South African textile industry is competition with foreign markets. Many foreign textile producers are able to produce cheaper clothes at a far greater scale. Small local businesses also have to compete with big-name clothing brands, stores and manufacturers.

The textile industry is primarily concerned with the design, production and distribution of textiles: yarn, cloth and clothing. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry.

These are: Mills, Suppliers, Technology and Academic institutions and the Government. We shall elaborate on one of the pillars in this two-part essay. Mills are naturally the main pillar of the ecosystem.

Natural vs. Synthetic

There are two types: natural and synthetic. Natural fibers are obtained from plants and animals. For example, cotton comes from plants while silk comes from silkworms. Synthetic fibers, on the other hand, are made entirely synthetic matter created by man.

The broad classification of apparel is: Menswear, Women's wear and Kids wear and others.

Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. Laundering synthetic clothes accounts for 35% of primary microplastics released into the environment.

What were 3 problems with the textile industry? ›

The main environmental problems caused by the textile industry include water pollution, air pollution and solid waste pollution.

Three major problems faced by the cotton textile industry in India are: i Competition from synthetic fibres which are cheaper and easy to maintain. ii Old and obsolete machinery and technology of production. iii It being an agro based industry is exposed to the vagaries of nature. Any year there is a crop failure.

The textile industry has been in long term decline since 1994 as a result of trade liberalisation, the increase in cheap Asian imports, and declining competitiveness and manufacturing capacity of local players.

This industry has seen ups and downs over the years due to a variety of factors and has struggled as a result of high manufacturing costs, frequent power outages, flawed strategies, and a lack of government support policies.

The Textile Industry in South Africa

The clothing, textiles, footwear and leather manufacturing masterplan, implemented in 2019, has led to some recovery and improvement in the textile industry including a steady increase in employment and production and revenue growth.

The South's mill owners not only benefited from cheap labor, they also entered the textile industry at a time of unprecedented technological advancement. The mill owners incorporated the most modern machines into their factories which allowed them to increase production and cut labor costs.

African textiles can be used as historical documents. Cloth can be used to commemorate a certain person, event, and even a political cause. Textile has also been used to convey important cultural information, and often played a central role in festivities and ceremonies.