No Need to Throw in the Towel Yet: The Case for the Revival of South African Textile and Clothing Industries

Despite the unexciting outlook of the textile and clothing industries in South Africa today, the strategic relevance of the sub sector in terms of developing country macroeconomic policies makes it imperative that radical interventions be explored in order to save it from total collapse. For instance, the sub sector has one of the longest supply chain that includes production of raw materials; spinning, weaving, or knitting; finishing; design; sewing; distribution; and marketing. Another factor that should make the sub sector attractive to policy makers is the fact that it absorbs a high proportion of unskilled workers and is generally labour intensive not to mention the fact that it is also female friendly. The paper demonstrates that the industry is worth governmental support and active intervention and should not be left to the mercies of the international market forces that presently threaten to wipe it out. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n7p1