Textiles and Clothing

The textiles and clothing industry emerged from rapid restructuring in the 1990s to take advantage of new trade agreements and increase exports to Europe and the USA. Textile exports grew at 5.9% a year in real value from 1996 to 2001, standing at R2.3 billion in 2001.
South Africa will find it increasingly difficult to compete with Far Eastern countries in low-cost low-value clothing production; the principal opportunities in textiles and clothing lie in the development of niche markets for products with strong local and international demand and in the move to higher-value production.

SOME OPPORTUNITIES:

• Integrated mixed fibre textile mill: East London IDZ investment with a core of cotton, polycotton and acrylic woven cloth.
• Clothing cluster: New clothing investment close to an integrated textile mill.
• Higher-value fashion clothing: Sports, leisure and youth clothing, dresses, scarves, wraps.
• Industrial textiles: Opportunities in auto seats and upholstery, tyre fabric, medical fabric.
• Integration with fashion and design: Partnerships between fashion industry, black designers and clothing companies to produce to trends.
• Textile training institute: Institute of textile technology, design and management, with participation of industry and universities.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• ECDC textiles and clothing sector specialist
— Tel: 043 704 5606 | E-mail: textiles@ecdc.co.za | Website: www.ecdc.co.za
• Clothing Export Council
—Tel: 021 761 6421
• Clothing Federation of South Africa (CLOFED)
— Tel: 011-402-0664 | E-mail: clofed@clofed.co.za | Website: www.clofed.co.za
• CSIR - Centre for Fibres, Textiles and Clothing (CFTC)
— Tel: 041 508 3262 | Website: www.csir.co.za
• CSIR – Cultural/craft Industries Design Unit
— Tel: 041 508 3237 | Website: www.csir.co.za
• Department of Trade and Industry (textiles and clothing)
— Tel: 0861-843-384 | Int. Tel: +27 11-254-9405 | E-mail: contactus@thedti.gov.za | Website: www.dti.gov.za
• SA Textile Industry Export Council (SAITEC)
— Tel: 021 959 4162
• Textile Federation of South Africa (TEXFED)
— Tel: 011-615-4007 / 9853 / 9856 | E-mail: texfed@texfed.co.za | Website: www.texfed.co.za